Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese DeputyMinister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai hosted a reception in Hanoi on November16 for Ambassador of the Czech Republic Vítězslav Grepl and a delegation from Skoda Auto, a car maker of the Czech Republic, who came to seek partners to build an automobile factory in thenorthern province of Quang Ninh.
Hai said the exchange of high-level delegations over the pastyears has created a driving force for bilateral economic, trade and investmentties between the two countries.
He added that Vietnam’s auto industry has grown rapidly over thepast three years and welcomed Skoda Auto's plan to invest in Vietnam. The presence of Skoda vehicles in Vietnam will help diversify thedomestic auto market, Hai said.
Grepl, for his part, expressed his hopethat auto manufacturing will become a focus of bilateral cooperation in thefuture.
Ondrej Cerny, a representative of Skoda Auto, said the car maker was established in 1985 in the Czech Republic and is part of Volkswagen Group.
The company plans to build an auto factory in Quang Ninh and begin exportingautomobiles by 2023, he said, adding that he hoped the Vietnamese Government,ministries and agencies will offer all possible support for Skoda Auto.
Hai said Vietnam signed 14 free trade agreements with countriesin and outside the region, especially commitments related to the auto industry inASEAN, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-PacificPartnership, and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. Therefore, he suggestedthe Czech Republic side thoroughly consider Vietnam’s international commitmentsas well as domestic laws to carry out investment.
As of October 2021, the Czech Republic has invested in38 valid projects worth 91.23 million USD, ranking 49th out of 140countries and territories investing in Vietnam./.