Around 30 Spanish corporations and 130 Vietnamese companies gathered for Vietnam-Spain Business Forum, the biggest-ever of its kind, in Ho Chi Minh City February 28.
The businesses participating in the forum came from a board range of sectors such as textiles, chemicals, solar energy, mechanics and chrome plating, electrical materials, home appliances, waste treatment, railway transports, decorative items, real estate and agro-food.
The event was a bridge for the two-side enterprises to exchange cooperation ties in franchise, technology know-how, technical assistance, subcontract, and sound out new opportunities.
The forum was jointly held by the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade and the Spanish Economic and Commercial Office in Ho Chi Minh City.
An official from the Ho Chi Minh City-based office said this year at least six big trade and investment events will be held in both Vietnam and Spain to promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Spain has pledged to provide soft loans of EUR60 million for Vietnam in next three years under an agreement inked with Vietnamese authorities February 26, state media said.
Vietnam’s exports to Spain have strongly risen since 2001. Vietnam exported around US$278 million worth of shoes, coffee clothes, fish and furniture in 2001 to Spain and the figure climbed up to US$1.3 billion last year. Spain now ranks Vietnam’s 10th biggest customer worldwide.
Spain pulled in US$200 million from export products to Vietnam including electric materials, pharmaceutical products and machinery in 2007. (Thanh Nien Daily)
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