Vietnam Has Many Admirers in India

I believe the forthcoming visit by Prime Minister H.E.Mr Nguyen Tan Dung will be hugely welcomed by the Indian government and people, as Vietnam has emerged as a great economic and social nation, with a fast growing economy and impressive social development, as well as being a steadfast friend to India over the 54 years since Vietnam’s independence. Viet Nam has many admirers in India for its impressive historical record in the past, and now new admirers of its modern achievements have been added to the fans of Vietnamese people.

 

The Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 seemed to usher in certain degree of division between Indian and Vietnamese people. However, since the early years of “Doi Moi” Indian investors were among those who came first. And as Vietnam begins to have many new friends, India was somewhat neglected till last year or so when new group of investors came to Viet Nam. But now our leaders seem to realise that they may have lost certain momentum in taking initiatives for adjusting to the realities of fast growing economies of the two nations.

 

Trade and investment, and cooperation for peace and security in Asia are among the most important areas. India could be a major investing country like Korea and Japan, or a major buyer of Vietnamese goods and products. We have been among Vietnam’s development partners since the 1970s. On that, soft loans amounting to about Rs 10 billion and technical cooperation programmes mostly aiming at human resource development are prominent.

 

The Indian government encouraged Indian companies to invest in Vietnam, especially to generate employment and to promote exports. For that we are negotiating for better facilities both internally and with Vietnam. It would be helpful if Vietnam opens an investment office in India so companies which are not yet familiar with Vietnam’s competitiveness as an investment destination will have an easy reference point. I have also advised VCCI to seek help from Indian companies already investing in Vietnam. After all, they have all good words for this country.

 

I am very happy to live and serve in Vietnam, and worked in Ho Chi Minh City for nine months before coming to Hanoi. I take my duty here seriously, as a mission to meet the aspirations of Indian people and the business communities in the two countries, and to help implement commitments made by our leaders. Although I have served as ambassador to two countries before, I really feel that working towards specific goals, like $2 billion in trade by 2009 promised by our foreign ministers in February, gives me great determination. Ambassadorship is not a job. It is a mission.