For years, Germany has been Vietnam’s largest EU partner. The two way trade has enjoyed a substantial increase in the last years. According to Mr Conrad Cappell, German Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Germany is continuously paying attention to the Vietnamese market through carrying out many economic projects in the coming time. Duc Quan reports.
What do you think about Vietnam-Germany bilateral relations 5 years after Vietnam’s WTO accession?
Vietnam and Germany have gained great achievements and remarkable results in bilateral cooperation in recent years. Especially in 2010, trade between Germany and Vietnam increased by 30 percent to over US$5 billion. I think this figure is quite impressive. Economic relations between Vietnam and Germany have been a stable pillar for the relationship. Considering that Vietnam has to fulfill WTO requirements according to an implementation schedule, a further substantial increase in bilateral trade can be expected. Important development is also seen in bilateral relations on education.
The two accords recently signed, on educational and research cooperation between Hessen State of Germany in Wiesbaden and MOET of Vietnam, show another contribution to bilateral relations, especially in the scientific research and exchange of students.
Especially, Vietnam and the European Union have signed a cooperation and partnership agreement in September. This agreement will further tighten ties not only between Vietnam and Germany, but also the whole of the European Union. It is a good basis for cooperation in the future.
Most recently, Vietnam and Germany signed two loan agreements worth US$315 million for two projects. US$300 million is for the metro line project in Ho Chi Minh City and US$15 million will be given to a vocational training project. It is a proven track that Vietnam-Germany cooperation relationship will continue to grow and flourish.
It is a policy of Vietnam to always create the best conditions for German businesses to operate here, how do you evaluate this?
For years, the Vietnamese Government has been making many efforts in improving the investment environment as well as creating favourable conditions for foreign investors. I do appreciate that Vietnam always wants to create the best conditions for German business and therefore continuously works on the improvement of the business environment for foreign companies in the future.
Germany is now the biggest trade partner of Vietnam in the EU, according to you, how will Germany support Vietnam to penetrate deeply and widely into European market?
Trade regulations for import and export to members of the European Union fall in the exclusive competence of the Commission of the European Union. Germany has always used its influence to make bilateral trade as easy as possible. The Delegate of the German Industry in Vietnam and the European Chamber of Commerce as well as the German Embassy and the Consulate General of Germany will, if necessary, assist Vietnamese companies in promoting trade to and investment in Germany.
Will the impact of the global economic-financial crisis on Germany cause any change in terms of Germany’s ODA commitment to Vietnam in the coming time?
Regarding development cooperation, Vietnam is one of the most important partners of Germany in Asia. Germany has been a regular and major ODA donor for Vietnam since 1990, Germany has provided over Eu 1 billion for ODA projects in Vietnam in the last two decades. In the recent visit of German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle to Vietnam in June 2011, he pledged further German ODA for Vietnam, especially in areas which Germany has strengths and of Vietnam’s interest including environmental protection to climate change adaptation, healthcare, education, vocational training and development of green and renewable energy.
Germany pledged to give Vietnam €137 million in the fiscal period of 2009-2010, up 17 percent against the previous term. I affirm that Germany's ODA in Vietnam is based on a long-term commitment.
Vietnam aims to be an industrialized country by 2020, what do you think are the challenges for the country to achieve this?
I think that Vietnam has an ambitious goal of attaining the status of an industrialized country by 2020. I sincerely wish that Vietnam can achieve its goal. Although the country has achieved remarkable economic results in the last 25 years since its policy of “doi moi”, there are nevertheless difficulties to be tackled. It is mainly the basic infrastructure and the quality of a value-added production by innovation which has to be improved. The establishment of a strong supply industry would certainly raise Vietnam's economy to a new more sustainable stage which is characteristic for industrialized countries. As a huge amount of funds would be needed, it is hoped that favourable rules for public private partnerships could be set up.
What do you expect from Vietnam-Germany cooperation after the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Vietnam?
The planned visit of the German Chancellor in Vietnam is a milestone in our bilateral relations. It is expected that Germany and Vietnam will intensify their cooperation in a broad spectrum, be it political, economic, scientific or cultural relations. We do expect that some of our lighthouse projects such as the building of a German house in HCMC, a new campus of the Vietnamese-German University and the founding of a German school integrating Vietnamese students, will be advanced.
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