Vietnam and Myanmar are looking to set up a steel joint venture, said visiting Myanmar Minister of Industry U Maung Myint during talks with Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang in Hanoi on May 14.

The Myanmar official said his current visit to Vietnam is to seek partners and forge bilateral trade link in the fields of chemicals, fertiliser, steel and agricultural machinery.

U Maung Myint said his country will expedite the establishment of steel joint ventures with Vietnam and call for investment from the Vietnamese businesses in garment and textiles.

Myanmar will also create optimal conditions for Vietnamese fertiliser firms to boost their exports to the market.

Meanwhile, the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) will provide a loan for a Myanmar bank to support the operation of its small-and medium sized enterprises.

Minister Hoang said he hopes Myanmar will soon issue a Law on Foreign Invesment to create a legal basis for Vietnamese investors operating there.-VNA