An overviewing screen of the meeting. Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs.
Giving a speech at the meeting, Mr. Alain Cany, Chairman of EuroCham, shared that, in the context of COVID-19 pandemic endurance across many countries including Vietnam, people have learnt to live with the epidemic, searching and implementing practical measures for adaptation, resilience, recovery, and prosperous development after the pandemic, and optimizing as well opportunities brought by EVFTA validity in Vietnam since the first day of January 2021. Mr. Alain Cany mentioned, since the EVFTA was signed, Vietnam – EU import and export turnover increased 20% and has continuously grown when EVIFA would have been approved by the European Parliament. At the meeting, the EuroCham White Book 2021 contented with EuroCham’s proposals and recommendations on measures for boosting effective cooperation in terms of health care, trade, tourism, services, etc. was launched. Mr. Alain Cany hoped that the meeting would be a channel for Vietnam Government’s agencies, European entrepreneurs, and related organizations, units, and individuals exchanging opinions and ideas, and doing dialogues between Vietnam and European partners to strengthen more opportunities brought by the EVFTA.
Mr. Alain Cany, Chairman of EuroCham, H.E. Ambassador Giorgio Aliberti, Head of the European Union Delegation to Vietnam, Mr. Pham Tan Cong, Chairman of VCCI, gave a speech at the meeting. Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs.
Listen to Mr. Alain Cany, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hong, Vietnam State Bank Governor, expressed gratitude to EuroCham for cooperating, getting accompany with, and supporting Vietnam Government and people during difficult COVID-19 pandemic period (EU supported Vietnam more than 15 million vaccine doses in COVAX framework, Team Europe, Breathing Recovery Program). Vietnam – EU trade relation reached to over 50 billion USD by November of 2021. That fact proved benefits born by the EVFTA signature between Vietnam and the EU. If the EVIPA gets approved soon, numerous opportunities will open to both sides in trade and investment. Vietnam has been in safe adaptation to the COVID-19 and has kept its economy balanced and has maintained a positive growth level. According to the latest report of UNCTAD, Vietnam has been placed in the top 20 attractive countries to FDI investors across the world. The EU has been continuously one of key strategic partners of Vietnam. Vietnam has been keeping a promise to continue facilitating economic cooperation activities in all fields, including high-tech, information technology, renewable energy, etc. The Vietnam State Bank Governor mentioned the meeting was an opportunity for stakeholders exchanging their opinions and towards common interests.
Speaking at the meeting, H.E. Ambassador Giorgio Aliberti, Head of the European Union to Vietnam, expressed his concerns on: i) listening from Vietnam and the EU to the both sides’ entrepreneurs’ concerns and viewpoints, ii) necessity of cutting down currently existing issues to able to enhance European FDI attraction to Vietnam, iii) a common and fair playing ground for the both sides’ entrepreneurs, particularly SMEs, iv) measures supporting sustainable development, v) enhancement of the both sides’ entrepreneurs’ responsibilities, targets to reach out neutral CO2 (as identified at COP 26 at Glasgow), legal framework improvement strengthened to facilitate more investment, manufacturing, and trade activities.
Giving speech at the meeting, Mr. Pham Tan Cong, Chairman of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), expressed high consideration EuroCham’s participation and contribution to investment and trade promotion in Vietnam, and EuroCham’s consultancy through the EuroCham’s White Book annual launch (since 2008). Mr. Pham Tan Cong also provided figures on: Vietnam’s economic growth and foreign currencies reserves, import and export turnover of Vietnam and the EU, number of EU’s FDI projects with a total capital of above 22.2 billion USD in Vietnam; impacts of COVID-19 to entrepreneurs’ operation and revenues in Vietnam; VCCI’s engagement in accompanying with EuroCham in implementing supportive activities and programs to entrepreneur community in Vietnam (such as EVBC establishment at Vietnam in 2021).
Delegates witnessed MOU Signing Ceremony between the Foreign Affairs Ministry and EuroCham. Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs.
At the meeting, representatives of Ministries, agencies, localities of Vietnam, and representatives of foreign diplomatic missions to Vietnam, witnessed the Ceremony of signing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation between the Foreign Affairs Ministry and EuroCham.
Representatives of European entrepreneurs shared viewpoints at the meeting. Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs.
To continue, European entrepreneurs in Vietnam shared their viewpoints, EuroCham’s divisions commented on trade services, digitalization, transportation – logistics, price transfer, agriculture and fishery industry, health care, pharmacy, automobile and motorbike, tourism and hospitality, nature – heritage, green sustainable growth. Representatives of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs responded to European entrepreneurs’ concerns. Some localities of Vietnam took granted the meeting to do promotion for their local strengths and investment environment.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung, gave a speech at the meeting. Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs.
The meeting was to connect European entrepreneurs to the Vietnam Government, Central agencies, and localities of Vietnam. It was a result of cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and EuroCham. The meeting also proved Vietnam’s engagements in operating channels for regular dialogue with foreign entrepreneur community in general, and the European one in particular./.