Speaking at the forum, Nguyen The Hung, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)’s HCM City Branch, said many African countries, including Nigeria, had become increasingly important economic partners of Vietnam.
Trade between Vietnam and Nigeria has shot up from USD 250 million a year in 2012-2016 to USD 433.5 million in 2017, with Vietnam running a deficit of USD 303.9 million.
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At the forum. Photo: voh.com.vn |
Vietnam exports 52 items to Nigeria, including mobile phones and components, textiles, footwear, cigarettes and tobacco, plastic products, chemicals, machinery and spare parts, computers, and electronic devices.
It imports raw cashew nuts, wood and wood products and cotton yarn, with the first two accounting for over 80 percent.
Sunday Edet Akpan, permanent secretary at Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industries, Trade and Investment, highlighted some of the investment opportunities.
Nigeria has a large domestic market, the largest in Africa, and the 27th largest economy in the world and a large population of over 190 million.
“The Nigerian Government is implementing an Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) in 2017 - 20 to create inclusive growth in the economy by improving human capacity, promoting economic diversification, investing in infrastructure, and building a globally competitive economy,” he said.
“To deliver on the vision of this economic program, the Government is executing critical reforms which have unlocked a lot of investment opportunities and we invite you today to take advantage of the investment opportunities in the ERGP,” the official added.
A lot of investment opportunities exist in mining and processing of solid minerals, agricultural sector, large-scale commercial agricultural production and other sectors, he said.
“Nigeria’s trade with Vietnam is characterized by primary commodities, mainly cashew nuts and wood. However, we strongly believe that this can be improved upon and expanded to include other processed commodities and manufactured goods in line with the developmental aspirations and economic policies of our countries.
“It is clear for example that, given Nigeria’s vast resources in land, minerals and agricultural produce, the opportunities for product manufacturing and produce processing are limitless.
“Fortunately for Vietnam, it is strategically located in a region where it can take full advantage of recent technological advances in developing its own economy.
“The various manufacturing and processing factories now springing up in Vietnam could be brought to Nigeria, where raw materials abound to the benefits of both countries.”
Hung said: “Nigeria is an important gateway for Vietnamese firms to penetrate the African market. It is forecast that by 2050 Nigeria will be the third most populous country in the world; so this will be a big market for Vietnamese enterprises.”
He said the business community on both sides should take advantage of each other’s strengths, especially in the field of raw material production, human resources, technology, processing and exports to take their trade and investment relations to new heights.
Organized by the VCCI and the Nigeria-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the forum was followed by a business-to-business meeting to enable further exchange of information and co-operation opportunities.
Source: VNA