The Vietnamese Government will create the possible best conditions for Sri Lankan and Vietnamese businesses to approach investment and trade opportunities.

State President Truong Tan Sang made this affirmation at a reception for Asoka Hettigoda, President of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, in Hanoi on Nov. 17.

He said he hopes the two countries’ businesses will take advantage of cooperative opportunities to raise export and import value and increase two-way trade to 1 billion USD by 2015.

Hettigoda said that in addition to studying the market, the visit aims to promote long-term investment in Vietnam.

Sri Lankan businesses want to find out about cooperative opportunities in the fields of garment, gemstone, healthcare, rubber and timber trading, machinery and tourism in which Vietnam has experience, Hettigoda said.

He expressed his desire to promote relations between the two countries’ businesses through support policies, adding that in the short term, Sri Lanka will invite Vietnamese enterprises to participate in a trade fair and exhibition to be held in the country next year.

The same day, a meeting between Vietnamese and Sri Lankan businesses took place 7 in Hanoi to promote economic and trade cooperation between the two countries towards the goal of 1 billion USD in two-way trade by 2015.

The event, co-hosted by Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in cooperation with the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) also aims to help Vietnamese businesses to foster commodities and technologies exports to Sri Lanka.

Speaking at the meeting, Hoang Van Dung, Vice Chairman of VCCI, said it is necessary to lift Vietnam-Sri Lanka trade relations to a new height.

President Asoka Hettigoda expressed hope to seek more opportunities to import goods from Vietnam as well as further cooperate with Vietnamese businesses in the fields of medical equipment; hospital and hotel construction; pharmaceutical product; garment and textile; products from coconut, tea, rubber, precious stone and cable.

He said NCCSL pledges to create conditions to support the two sides’ enterprises in promoting trade between the two countries.

In the framework of the meeting, VCCI and NCCSL signed a cooperative agreement, which is expected to open new opportunities for the two countries’ businesses./.