EU businesses seek cooperation opportunities in Vietnam

A delegation of 40 EU businesses will visit Vietnam from November 2-4 to seek investment and business opportunities in agriculture and farm produce trading in the country.

The delegation, to be led by EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan, comprises firms operating in dairy, cereal, vegetable and wine production, heard a meeting in Brussels on October 13.

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According to Diego Canga Fano, Multilateral Relations Director at the EC’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, there will be a range of trade promotion activities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City during the trip such as workshops and meetings with local trade partners and the press.

The enterprises will hold working sessions with the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and Trade, and Science and Technology, he said.

Diego Canga Fano highlighted Vietnam’s high economic growth rate and young population desiring to use European products as attractiveness to the firms.

Vietnam is one of the EU’s priority partners, he said, noting that the bloc wishes to step up trade ties with the Southeast Asian nation, especially with the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement coming into force soon.

At the meeting, Nguyen Canh Cuong, Vietnamese Minister Counselor in charge of economic and commercial affairs in Belgium, briefed the EU businesses on Vietnam’s economic landscape and its potential for cooperation with the EU.

He told Vietnam News Agency that the EU has carried out many projects aiming to help Vietnam in agriculture and farm produce trading.

Through the visit, the EU aims to expand agricultural cooperation with Vietnam, he said.

Vietnam is the first leg of the EU firms’ trip to ASEAN nations, which will also take them to Singapore and Indonesia.