More than 100 officials and business people from Vietnam and Belgium participated in a workshop in Belgium’s northern city of Ghent on October 26 to study trade and investment between the two countries.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Vuong Thua Phong said Belgium was an important partner of Vietnam with two-way trade seeing growth in recent years.

Bilateral trade reached nearly USD 2.3 billion in 2015 compared to only several million USD in 2000, he said, adding that Belgian investors are active in major economic sectors in Vietnam like industry, agriculture, and financial services.

A pig raising model in Vietnam. (Photo for illustration)

The European country runs 65 projects worth USD 724.21 million in Vietnam, he noted.

Head of Economy, European and International Cooperation unit in East Flanders province Astrid Vliebergh said the province opened an economic office in Ho Chi Minh City six years ago to help Belgian businesses in Vietnam.

Since then, Vietnam has gained impressive economic achievements, she said, noting that some provincial companies promote cooperation in animal husbandry in HCM City and its vicinities.

In December 2016, a delegation of scientists and businesspeople in cultivation will arrive in Vietnam to discuss collaboration in growing flowers and vegetables in Da Lat and HCM City, she revealed.

Lawyer Oliver Massmann commented that Vietnam’s recently-adopted Law on Investment and Law on Enterprises is clear and transparent, while other legal regulations on foreign investment have been revised in line with international standards.

Vietnam has a favorable investment environment, especially after the country’s engagement in the World Trade Organization, he said.

Source: VNA