In an interview with First Deputy Prime Minister of the Udmurt Republic Konstantin Suntsov (Photo: VNA) Moscow (VNA) – First Deputy Prime Minister of theUdmurt Republic of the Russian Federation Konstantin Suntsov has expressed hisbelief that its bilateral relations and trade with Vietnam will be enhanced inthe coming time.
Talking with a Moscow-based Vietnam News Agency reporter,Suntsov said that two-way trade hit 165 million USD in 2019, which wasestimated at 200 million USD last year despite impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
He noted that Udmurtia is running a trade surplus withVietnam, with its exports accounting for up to 70 percent of the total value,mostly metal and forestry products, cellulose and papers. Meanwhile, Vietnam hasmainly shipped consumer goods to Udmurtia.
While expressing his interest in Vietnamese coffee, Suntsovsaid Udmurtia’s Tasty Coffee company accounts for about one-third of Russia’scoffee market share.
According to the official, Udmurtia already exportedmilitary technical products, metal and wooden products and medical equipment toVietnam, and plans to ship more farm produce, light chemical industry productsand IT services.
At an online trade promotion forum held in late 2020,Udmurtia introduced unmanned aerial vehicles, medical equipment, food colouringproducts, bleaches used in agriculture and farm produce to Vietnamese partners.
First Deputy Prime Minister of the Udmurt Republic Konstantin Suntsov (Photo: VNA) He also praised Vietnam for its natural, art and culturalbeauty which he felt during his visits to Hanoi, Sa Pa and Ha Long Bay in 2015.
On its capacity as rotating ASEAN Chair in 2020, Vietnam wellperformed its role in assisting other regional member states in coping with theCOVID-19 pandemic, Suntsov said.
In his opinion, the Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership (RCEP) agreement, signed in 2020, will become a bridge betweenRussia and Southeast Asia.
As Vietnam is really a bridge between Russia and ASEAN,Udmurtia will also take advantage of that, he said.
Udmurtia is a federal subject of the Russian Federationwithin the Volga Federal District. Industry now accounts for over 45 percent ofUdmurtia’s economic structure. Its enterprises also manufacture equipment fornuclear power plants, medical and oil-gas equipment, metal and plasticproducts. Agriculture is also an important priority of its development./.
VNA
