Holland wants to increase cooperation with Vietnam in five prioritised sectors, especially energy, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Lilianne Ploumen said on November 28.

At her meeting with visiting Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai in Holland on November 28, the Dutch minister said Vietnam, from an assistance recipient, has become Holland’s development partner with potentials, creating sustainable benefits for both sides.

Deputy PM Hai said he hopes Minister Ploumen will continue to promote cooperation projects in climate change, water resource management, agriculture, energy, oil and gas, seaport and logistics, while creating favourable conditions for Dutch businesses to expand their operation and investment in Vietnam .

Later on, the Deputy PM attended the Vietnam-Holland CEO conference on energy cooperation.

Addressing a large audience, which included representatives from the world’s leading groups such as Shell, Global Energy and Winel Industry Group, Deputy PM Hai said while Vietnam has diverse sources of energy, it considers oil and gas, coal and power industries the main pillars of the nation’s energy security.

Vietnam welcomes outside partners to participate in the sustainable development of the energy sector, on the basis of long-term, effective and mutually- beneficial cooperation, he said.

Participants from both countries presented their plans and needs in energy cooperation. The National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) called for investors in oil and gas exploration and exploitation, oil processing, renewable energy development and energy saving.

Holland, in recent years, has emerged to become one of the EU leading investors in Vietnam .

By the end of October, the country had 172 projects worth 5.88 billion USD, ranking 11th out of 96 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

Prominent among Holland’s projects in Vietnam are the 2.1 billion USD Mong Duong thermal power plant and the 410 million USD Phu My 3 power plant.-VNA