Buenos Aires (VNA) – Vietnam is developing sustainably and is an incredibly attractive market for South American countries, particularly Uruguay, said Dr. Ignacio Bartesaghi, Director of the International Business Institute of the Catholic University of Uruguay and Programme Coordinator of the ASEAN-MERCOSUR Chair.
In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency, Dr. Bartesaghi said that during his visit to Hanoi in October 2024, he witnessed significant changes in the country compared to his last visit three years earlier. The investment in infrastructure and the emergence of numerous new buildings in urban areas left a strong impression on him. He sees Vietnam as a nation that is continuously developing, embodying the spirit of modern life, he said.
Regarding the Vietnam -Uruguay relationship, he highlighted the immense potential for economic and trade cooperation. Uruguay can supply agricultural products to Vietnam, such as beef, soybean, and wine. In return, Vietnam can provide technology, electronics, and machinery for Uruguay.
Discussing the prospects for negotiating a free trade agreement between the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), he expressed confidence that both sides are actively working to advance this process.
Paraguay has mentioned the establishment of a Paraguay-ASEAN Chamber of Commerce to promote market expansion into Southeast Asia. Countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines are experiencing high growth rates and are very dynamic, making them highly attractive to Latin American investors, particularly those from South America, including Uruguay.
In terms of educational cooperation, Dr. Bartesaghi expressed a desire to further enhance academic exchanges between Vietnam and Uruguay, following the success of his visit to the Foreign Trade University in October 2024, facilitated by the ASEAN-MERCOSUR Chair Programme.
Established in 2016, the ASEAN-MERCOSUR Chair Programme promotes dialogue and cooperation between ASEAN and MERCOSUR, especially in the fields of economy and education. The programme facilitates bilateral trade activities, supports technology exchanges in agriculture and industry, and develops joint research projects on science and technology. Educational cooperation and academic exchanges between ASEAN and MERCOSUR will contribute to enhancing human resources quality and expanding opportunities for international collaboration./.
