Following is the fulltext of the interview.
What will be the main focus of Prime Minister Petr Fiala's visit to Vietnam andhow do you think it will contribute to strengthening the relationship betweenthe Czech Republic and Vietnam?
The main focus of Prime Minister Petr Fiala's visit to Vietnam is tostrengthen the relationship between the Czech Republic and Vietnam. This visitwill contribute to enhancing trade, investment, cultural, and people-to-peopleexchanges between the two countries.
The relationship between Czech and Vietnamese people has been exceptionalsince it began over seven decades ago. Could you please share your assessmentof the results of the bilateral relationship in recent years?
The Czech Republic has been gradually gaining more importance in theVietnamese market over the years. Vietnam is now one of the most promisingmarkets for Czech businesses in Southeast Asia due to its large population,rapid economic growth, and favourable investment environment. The Vietnamese Government has implemented various policies to improve the investmentclimate and attract foreign investment.
The most promising sectors for Czech businesses in Vietnam aremanufacturing, tourism, and technology. Vietnam has a large and youngworkforce, which is a key advantage for the manufacturing sector. Additionally,the country is becoming increasingly popular as a tourist destination, andCzech businesses could tap into this growing market. In terms of technology, Vietnam hasa highly skilled workforce in the field of information technology, and there isgreat potential for Czech businesses to collaborate with Vietnamese partners inthis sector.
What are your views on Vietnam's investment environment for Czechbusinesses? What can Vietnam do or adjust to attract more investment fromthe Czech Republic? What areas do you think hold the most potential for Czechbusinesses in Vietnam?
Vietnam has made significant progress in improving its investmentenvironment in recent years, although there is still room for improvement. Toattract more investment from the Czech Republic, Vietnam could consideradjusting its legal and regulatory frameworks to make them more transparent andpredictable.
In addition, Vietnam could work to improve its infrastructure andlogistics to make it easier for Czech businesses to operate in the country.Sectors with the most potential for Czech businesses in Vietnam includemanufacturing, tourism, and technology.
For example, Vietnam's manufacturing sector benefits from a large and youngworkforce, while its tourism industry has been growing rapidly in recent years.In the technology sector, Vietnam has a highly skilled workforce and acompetitive IT industry, making it an attractive destination for Czechbusinesses looking to collaborate in this field.
By addressing these issues, Vietnam can continue to attract moreinvestment from the Czech Republic and deepen their economic ties.
The cooperation in education between Vietnam and the Czech Republicdates back to 1956 when around 100 Vietnamese schoolchildren were sent toChrastava in the Liberec region. How has cooperation in this field developed inrecent years, and what potential do you see for further collaboration ineducation between our two countries in the future?
Cooperation in education between Vietnam and the Czech Republic hascontinued to flourish in recent years. The two countries have deepened theirties through various academic exchanges, research partnerships, and jointdegree programmes. Vietnamese students are increasinglychoosing the Czech Republic as a destination for higher education, and thenumber of Czech students studying in Vietnam is also on the rise.
During the Prime Minister’s visit, the Czech Republic and Vietnam willsign a Letter of Intent on educational cooperation, which aims in future tofurther strengthen collaboration between the two countries in this field.
Furthermore, there is potential for increased cooperation in vocationaleducation and training. The Czech Republic has a strong vocational educationsystem, and Vietnam could benefit from learning from the Czech experience inthis field.
Since becoming the Ambassador to Vietnam in 2022, what has impressedyou the most about the country?
Since becoming the Ambassador to Vietnam in 2022, I have beenimpressed by the country's natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture.The people of Vietnam are friendly and welcoming, and the country has madesignificant progress in economic development./.