Working with Texas

Working with Texas

On August 13, 2004, VCCI in conjunction with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the State of Texas Office, Economic Development and Tourism (TXOOG) and the Vietnam Center - Texas Tech University (TTU), organised in Hanoi a seminar "Doing Business with Texas, USA" to promote investment and trade between Vietnamese and American businesses. At the seminar, Mr. Doan Duy Khuong, VCCI Vice-President and Mr. Jensen Shen, Asia-Pacific Director, Office Governor of Texas, signed a cooperation agreement on economic development and tourism between Vietnam and Texas.

Mr. Nguyen Bich Dat, Vice Minister of Planning and Investment reviewed the US investment in Vietnam and the trade value between the two countries. Mr. Dat said that in the first half of 2004, the bilateral trade value was US$2.6 billion. He also announced the commitment of Vietnamese government to establish a common legal framework to facilitate foreign investors and business in developing economic and trade relations with Vietnam.

To introduce the potentials of Texas, Mr. Geoff Connor, Texas Secretary of State, pointed out that the United States had special interest in the Vietnamese hi-tech industry, but that it also wanted to develop relations in education and services.

After the presentation Vietnamese and American businesses conducted separate meetings to promote their cooperation. The seminar itself was an opportunity for the promotion of investment and trade between Vietnam and Texas.

• Huyen Nhi