Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) held a workshop on opportunities in investment and trade between Vietnam and Pakistan , on July 29 in Hanoi .

The workshop aimed to provide avenues for businesses of the two countries to engage in exchanges of trade cooperation opportunities.

In recent years, bilateral cooperative relations in trade between Vietnam and Pakistan achieved steady growth. Two-way trade between the two countries increased from 80 million USD in 2005 to almost 223 million USD in 2010. In the first four months of this year, turnover reached nearly 90 million USD.

Speaking at the workshop, Vice Chairman of VCCI Doan Duy Khuong expressed hope that the two countries would take full advantage and tap the potential of each country to further promote relations.

Pakistani Secretary of Commerce Zafar Mahmood recognised the significance of the workshop for future cooperation between Vietnam and Pakistan , saying it was a good opportunity for the two countries to reach a new development step in cooperative relations.

Since Vietnam and Pakistan established external relations in 1972, the two countries had signed agreements and memoranda of understanding in the fields of diplomacy, trade, banking and finance, science and technology and aquaculture./.