Vietnam, Sweden enhance cooperation on seeking investment opportunities

PANO – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a talk with Swedish Minister of Trade Ann Linde and Swedish business delegates on their visit to Vietnam to seek investment and cooperation opportunities in the country on October 6 in Hanoi.

At the meeting, the PM said that relations between Vietnam and Sweden have developed in all fields, but the economic cooperation has not met the expectation of both sides.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (third from right, front) and delegates in a joint photo

The Vietnamese Government has improved its business investment environment to attract foreign investors including those from Sweden.

He also believed the upcoming signing of the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement would offer more cooperation opportunities for the business communities of the two countries.

The two-way trade turnover of US$ 1.2 billion has yet to meet the two countries’ potential, he said.

For his part, Swedish Trade Minister Ann Linde confirmed that Sweden really want to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam, especially in health, education, science technology as well as economy, trade, investment, and increase two-way trade.

*Earlier in the same day, the Swedish Trade and Industry Organization, in association with the Embassy of Sweden in Hanoi and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, discussed solutions to build a sustainable society and share experiences between Vietnam and Sweden in Hanoi.

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister Do Thang Hai said that Vietnam recorded a significant growth rate of 6 percent last year and is undergoing a rapid urbanization rate. About 52 million people are expected to live in cities by 2025, as compared with 25 million people in 2009.

Meanwhile, Minister Linde highlighted Vietnam’s economic development in the past 30 years and said that Sweden would assist Vietnam in building a zero-emission society.

The participants also shared experiences in reducing the number of traffic accidents by smart public transportation solutions, and discussed issues related to production innovations, investment in education and talent training, contributing to economic development of Vietnam.