The Italian government and the authorities of Lombardy Region are actively co-operating in promoting Lombard enterprises on international markets. Their latest venture is the “Cross-industry Business Mission to Internationalize the Lombard System in Vietnam”, which recently brought 10 Lombard companies to Hanoi, while four of them also visited Ho Chi Minh City.
All will be looking for meaningful business opportunities in a variety of sectors, ranging from automobile and motorcycles’ parts, to textile machinery and furniture, from paper to construction and pneumatic equipment and to plumbing and heating equipment.
Apart from introducing the links with the prosperous and industrious Lombardy Region, the delegation conducted one-to-one business meetings between Italian and Vietnamese companies and visits to local counterparts, industrial parks and associations
The Italian Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr. Lorenzo Angeloni, remarked that this is the first Italian mission to Vietnam in 2011, especially in the most important moment of Vietnam with lots of positive economic and political changes. The newly-appointed ambassador appreciated Vietnam’s economic growth with many potential and advantages such as high trade volume compared to other countries in the region, young labor force and high economic growth.
The mission comes on the heels of a significant strengthening in bilateral trade relations. According to Italian official statistics, Italy’s exports to Vietnam grew 25% in the first 9 months of 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009, while the reverse flow gained 17%. Trade between Vietnam and Lombardy region has also steadily increased with an average growth rate of 9% per annum during the period 2001-2009. Notwithstanding this positive overall trend, exports from Lombardy region to Vietnam in the first 9 month of 2010 amounted to about Euro 75 million or 87% of the level achieved in the same period in 2009. On the other hand, imports from Vietnam into Lombardy grew rapidly, to an amount of Euro 179 million, 34% more than in 2009. Trade data by Region are provisional and a clearer picture will be drawn when all of the year will be accounted for.
“These links have recently been consolidated through an inter-institutional cooperation agreement that commits Lombardy and Vietnam to a closer partnership during the visit to Italy of Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung. The agreement facilitates, promotes and encourages cooperation in a number of fields, including the development of SMEs, through commercial relations that enhance the competiveness and export capacity of the companies involved. I firmly believe that this mission is an important pillar of this mutual support-led approach. Spearheaded by the 10 participating companies, it offers a chance to bring the excellence of Made in Lombardy goods to the large and promising Vietnamese market.” Mr. Marco Saladini, the Italian Trade Commissioner in Vietnam shared.
The region of Lombardy has taken advantage of its strategic position and an enterprising population to earn itself an international reputation as an economically vibrant part of Europe and one of the Old continent’s most highly industrialized regions. Located in northern Italy, it is the beating heart of the most economically-advanced part of Europe. With a population of almost 10 million people living in an area of 24,000 km², Lombardy is a dynamic and competitive territory that produces GDP of almost €300 billion. Around 800,000 small and medium-size enterprises are the driving force of the regional economic system, boosted as well by a number of major industrial enterprises. Lombard businesses operate in mechanics, machine tool manufacturing, design, fashion, biotech, home automation, energy saving, environment protection, engineering, subcontracting, furnishings, electronics and food processing.
Nam Pham
Vietnamese
