Vice President Doan Duy Khuong of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) hosted a meeting with His Excellency Anatol Urecheanu, Ambassador of Moldova to China and Vietnam, at the VCCI Headquarters in Hanoi on October 7, 2014 on his official working visit to Vietnam.
Mr Khuong affirmed that the relations between Vietnam and Moldova have been thriving. Both parties regularly support and coordinate well together at international and regional forums. Vietnam always attaches great importance to maintaining and promoting the traditional friendship with Moldova. However, economic and trade relations between Vietnam and Moldova are not really commensurate with political ties, potentials and desires of both parties, he added.
According to data announced by the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Moldova reached US$5.1 million in 2013, up 36 per cent over 2012, of which Vietnam's exports to Moldova valued US$4.1 million, up 26 per cent, and its imports from Moldova approximated US$1 million, up 103 per cent.
Seafood is the biggest export of Vietnam to the Moldovan market with US$2.04 million in 2013, accounting for 49 per cent of the country’s total exports to this market and rising 157 per cent year on year. Other exports of Vietnam included vegetables, crackers and cereals.
Pharmaceuticals were the key export of Moldova to Vietnam with US$760,000 last year, accounting for 80 per cent of its total exports to Vietnam and jumping 5 times over 2012. Its other exports to Vietnam were mechanical products, machines, equipment, tools and spare parts.
Mr. Anatol Urecheanu said Moldova uses most of its soil for agriculture and livestock husbandry and this sector generates jobs for a third of the labour force. Its key agricultural products are grapes, tobacco and vegetable oil. The Government of Moldova also sets store by trade and investment cooperation with Vietnam, especially in wine production. Wine is a strategic product of Moldova, as it contributes 9 per cent of the country’s GDP and 20 per cent of the population lives on the winemaking industry.
As Vietnam now has a lot of businesses operating in the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) region, the Ambassador expects they will expand investment in Moldova. Moldova is ready to create the most favourable conditions for them to make production investment.
He also stressed that, promote bilateral trade relations in the coming time, the two nations should step up trade and investment promotion and boost information to their businesses and citizens, to learn more about each other.
He said Moldova will hold Wine Festivals in March 2015 in some provinces and cities in Vietnam, like Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. Besides, a meeting of the Vietnam - Moldova Intergovernmental Committee and the Vietnam - Moldova Economic Forum are expected to take place in June 2015, which will open up a lot of opportunities of business cooperation for companies in both countries.
Thu Ha
Vietnamese
