Belarus- Gateway for Vietnamese Goods to Enter Western Europe

Delivering the opening speech to the forum, VCCI Vice President Pham Gia Tuc said: Vietnam and Belarus have a very fine traditional relationship and have signed many cooperation agreements to promote bilateral cooperation. The Vietnam - Belarus Business Forum is a meaningful programme for the business communities of the two countries, particularly Vietnamese people who used to live and study in Belarus and currently hold key positions in Vietnam as well as Vietnamese people currently living, studying and working in Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan. As a representative of the business community in Vietnam, VCCI pledges to enhance cooperation and promote trade relations between the two countries and organise regular surveys, trade fairs and exhibitions connecting the two sides’ businesses.

 

In couple with positive achievements in cooperation of security, defence, science, technology, culture and education, the two countries also made significant progress in trade ties. The two-way trade turnover reached US$100 million in 2010 and rose to nearly US$177 million in the first 10 months of 2011. Given long geographic distance, differences in language, culture and payment as well as tariff barriers, these outcomes are actually very impressive. Proven by this success, Belarus is an important partner and a gateway for Vietnamese goods to enter Western European markets. However, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Tran Quoc Khanh, said although trade and investment relations between Vietnam and Belarus thrived in the past time, the outcome is incommensurate with their potentials and traditional relations. For that reason, he suggested Vietnamese and Belarusian companies further promote trade exchange and investment cooperation to bring the two-way ties to a new high.

 

Speaking at the forum, Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich emphasised that trade relations between Vietnam and Belarus have grown strongly in the past three years and huge potentials remain untapped. He expected the bilateral trade revenues to top US$200 million next year and US$1 billion in a fear future. Apart from setting up new representative offices in Vietnam, visiting Belarusian enterprises had plans to sign concrete contracts with Vietnamese partners on cooperation in heavy truck production, fertiliser production, agricultural development, mining, education and defence. Both Vietnamese and Belarusian companies are eying to process, export and import agricultural products, build agricultural engine factories, and develop education among others. As a kick-starter for the higher strategic cooperation, an engine factory would be established with the participation of Minsk Motor Plant Open Joint Stock Company of Belarus (OJSC). . Besides, the two countries would promote the assembly of MAZ automobiles at the plant of Vietnam Engine and Agricultural Machinery Corporation (VEAM).

 

Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich added that Belarus ranked 69th on the list of countries with best investment environment. The company is striving to be on the Top 30 list by 2015. With tireless effort to create a better investment environment, Belarus wants to boost cooperation with Vietnam to produce goods for export to Western European countries. Especially in education, Belarus intends to set up a joint venture with a Vietnamese educational institution to build a school in Vietnam which will employ Belarusian teachers, boost cooperation in infrastructure investment and technology transfer between the two countries. Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich said his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung strongly supported this idea and directed relevant ministries and agencies to prepare necessary procedures for the project in the shortest time. In addition, Belarus will cooperate with Vietnam to speed up the start of free trade agreement negotiations between Vietnam and the Tariff Alliance of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. This event will create more opportunities for businesses of two countries to enhance cooperation in trade and investment.

 

Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich also awarded medals for VCCI leaders and handed the Letter of Authorisation to Honorary Consul of the Republic of Belarus in Ho Chi Minh City to the representative of Mekong Vietnam Company. Many companies signed cooperation agreements at the business forum, including RUE Minsk Tractor Works and Mekong Machinery Co., Ltd; Beishina Automotive Tire Joint Stock Company and Au Viet Industries Company; BeiAZ Joint Stock Company and Au Viet Industries Company; Belarus Fertilisers Joint Stock Company and Southern Fertilisers Joint Stock Company; Belarus Fertilisers Joint Stock Company and Can Tho Fertiliser and Chemical Joint Stock Company.