"VCCI will coordinate with the Embassy of Spain in Vietnam to organise a direct meeting for Vietnamese and Spanish enterprises on the occasion of official visit to Vietnam by Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, José Manuel Garcia-Margallo, on March 26 and 27, 2014. He will be accompanied by leading Spanish companies specialised in construction, infrastructure, technology, defence, energy, environment and water.”
This information was announced after the meeting between Mr Hoang Van Dung, Standing Vice President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) with Mr Alfonso Tena, Spanish Ambassador to Vietnam, at the VCCI Headquarters in Hanoi.
Mr Alfonso Tena appreciated Vietnam - Spain cooperation relations in recent years and underscored supports for Vietnamese businesses to invest and penetrate into the Spanish market as well as European markets. He added that many Spanish companies are now engaged in construction projects in Vietnam like transport systems in Hanoi and Haiphong, Hanoi - Lao Cai Expressway.
He said Spanish companies are supported with business and investment procedures in Vietnam. In the coming time, Spain wants to promote cooperation with Vietnam in many fields like technology transfer, knowledge and SME cooperation.
VCCI Vice President Hoang Van Dung confirmed that Vietnam always regards Spain as a potential market and wants to expand investment cooperation with Spanish firms. Vietnam, at all times, creates the best conditions for Spanish companies to study and invest in Vietnam.
Spain is one of EU countries with high trade growth with Vietnam. Currently, Spain is a major EU market of Vietnam, with steady annual trade turnover growth. In 2013, Vietnam’s exports to Spain reached US$2.11 billion, up 17.81 percent over 2012.
Its key exports to Spain are garments, telephone and accessories, footwear, coffee and seafood. Meanwhile, Vietnam mainly imports chemicals, machines, equipment, tools, spare parts, plastic materials, pharmaceuticals, and apparel and footwear materials from the European nation.
Spain has many investment projects in Vietnam, mainly engaged in ceramics, porcelain tiles, insulation panels and handbags. The biggest project is a glazes and pigments production project in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province (US$3.6 million) and the second largest is a heat-insulation material production project in Vinh Phuc province (US$2.4 million).
Reportedly, VCCI signed a cooperation agreement with the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, the Council of Spanish Chambers of Commerce, and the Spain Industries Confederation to strengthen cooperation to support companies of the two countries to do business.
Quynh Chi
Vietnamese
