Vietnam is willing to share experience in national economic development with Egypt – a promising market with a population of nearly 90 million and a favourable geographic position for trade between Africa, Asia and Europe.

The two countries have a lot of potential for wider cooperation, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat said in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the sidelines of the Egypt Economic Development Conference (EEDC) held in the resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh on March 13-15.

Vietnam’s involvement in eight free trade agreements and six agreement negotiations, and Egypt’s participation in the Arab Free Trade Area will open up opportunities for the two countries’ businesses to export their products to the respective markets, he said, citing Vietnam could export farm produce, seafood and consumer goods to Egypt.

He suggested the two sides increase information exchanges and cooperation for mutual benefits.

He proposed the two countries’ State management agencies enhance coordination to create a legal framework for specific fields to facilitate business operation.

At the same time, it is important to raise the role of the commercial and industrial chambers to bridge cooperative activities of the business community, he said.

The minister highlighted the EDDC as an important political and economic event to Egypt that drew many heads of states, leaders of ministries, sectors, and major economic groups around the world.

The conference also offered a good chance for Vietnamese businesses to seek investment opportunities, contributing to elevating bilateral trade between Vietnam and Egypt to 500 million USD in 2015, he said.

He expressed his belief that the outcomes of the conference will help Egypt revive its economy and become a partner of Vietnam in the path of development.-VNA