Vietnam, Cuba to join hands in construction material production

Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha urged Cuban leaders, including the construction minister, to facilitate the early establishment of a joint venture between the Vietnam Glass and Ceramics for Construction Corporation (Viglacera) and the Cuban Geicons Group.

During a June 13 reception for a delegation from the Cuban Ministry of Construction to Vietnam, Minister Ha called on his Cuban counterpart Rene Antonio Mesa Villafana to support and facilitate the export of Viglacera’s construction materials to the country.

The Minister expressed his hope that the Cuban side will facilitate the cooperation between the two nations, particularly the operation and development of Vietnamese construction firms in Cuba.

The Vietnamese ministry is willing to share its experience with its Cuban counterpart in managing and developing housing, urban areas, technology and material production, Minister Ha affirmed.

For his part, the Cuban Minister said with the joint venture, once established, it will help Cuba reduce its import of construction materials.

The Cuban side expressed hope that the two nations will strengthen human resources training, particularly in the construction field; and that the two ministries will boost cooperation between the two nations’ enterprises.

Vietnam is the second biggest trade partner of Cuba in Asia, with bilateral trade value exceeding 207 billion USD in 2014, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

Vietnam’s major products that are shipped to Cuba include rice, coal, chemicals, textiles and computers; while Cuba exports pharmaceuticals to Vietnam, worth nearly 1.3 million USD.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, as of December 2015, there was one Cuban project operating in Vietnam with a registered capital of 6.6 million USD. Vietnam also had one oil project operating in Cuba.-VNA