Leading Slovakian businesses in nuclear energy, electricity, IT and software met with their Vietnamese counterparts at a Vietnam-Slovakia Business Forum sponsored by Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Slovakian Embassy in Hanoi.
The forum was organised on the occasion of the visit of a business delegation headed by Slovakian Deputy Prime Minister Miroslav Lajcak from November 4-6, 2014 to promote bilateral trade and investment.
Speaking at the forum, VCCI Vice President Doan Duy Khuong highlighted the long-standing friendship and the support of the former Czechoslovakia and present Slovakia to Vietnam in national defence and construction. Sharing advantages in economic structure and political stability, the two countries are most attractive and dynamic markets in Asia and Europe. Vietnam and Slovakia can favourably develop bilateral trade in both quality and quantity. Meanwhile, the cooperation of the two governments and business communities is the driving force.
“Slovakia is an EU member and Vietnam is the 150th member of WTO in 2007, Vietnam can serve as a bridge for Slovakian trade not only with Vietnam but also ASEAN, while for its part, Slovakia can promote Vietnamese trade with EU and Eastern European countries,” Dr Khuong said.
Nevertheless, Dr Khuong added, the current trade between Vietnam and Slovakia failed to match the potential and desire of the two countries. The bilateral trade value in 2013 was only over US$407 million. Vietnamese exports mainly are electronic parts, footwear and garments worth US$391 million and imports worth US$16 million.
In the first 9 months of 2014, the total Vietnam-Slovakia trade value was US$308 million including Vietnamese export of US$285.6 million and import of US$22.4 million.
Regarding investments, by the end of 2013, Slovakia had 5 projects with registered capital of US$235 million, ranking 31st among 101 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, including hotel-office project in Ho Chi Minh City, Lac Thinh Industrial Zone in Hoa Binh started in 2011.
According to Dr Khuong, VCCI in conjunction with Vietnam House Global Culture-Education Development Centre will sponsor a market survey in Slovakia by the end of November to develop business partnership and investments.
For his part, Deputy Prime Minister Miroslav Lajcak pointed out the potentials of Slovakia in machinery, energy and especially high technology and innovation. In addition, Slovakia reserves strong support for SMEs which are vital for economic development, import-export and FDI of the two countries.
The Deputy Prime Minister reaffirmed the readiness on the part of Slovakia for bilateral cooperation and hoped that through the business forum, the two countries will record greater successes in future.
Quynh Chi
Vietnamese
