The opening of the first Hanoi - Dubai air route by Dubai-based airline Emirates has opened up many travel and trade opportunities for the two sides. This was also the main content of the meeting between Mr Hoang Quang Phong, Vice President of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Emirates Vietnam CEO Haitham Al Battawy at VCCI Head Office in Hanoi.
Speaking at the meeting, VCCI Vice President Hoang Quang Phong stressed that Dubai has long been known as one of the largest commercial centres in the Middle East and as a gateway to penetrate African markets. The two sides have cooperated closely in various fields and trade turnover has kept rising although result achieved are incommensurate with existing potential due to limited market approaches for both sides, particularly language barriers and geographical distances.
The opening of Hanoi - Dubai route will help shorten the geographical distance and increase opportunities of cooperation between Vietnam and Dubai in particular and between Vietnam and Middle Eastern and African countries in general, he added.
Mr Haitham Al Battawy, CEO of Emirates in Vietnam, said, Vietnam is an active developing country in Southeast Asia. People's living standards have improved and more people wish to travel and do business abroad.
Four years ago, on June 4, 2012, Emirates opened the first flight to Vietnam with daily flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Dubai. This event marked Vietnam’s connection with Emirates’ global network headquartered in Dubai. From Dubai, Emirates brings customers from Vietnam to its global networks in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, America and South Asia. He hoped that, with the opening of Hanoi - Dubai route, Emirates will contribute to strengthening connectivity for Hanoi and its surrounding areas, and further contribute to tourism and trade development of Hanoi in particular and Vietnam at large.
Remarking on business opportunities for both parties in the near future, VCCI Vice President Hoang Quang Phong stressed that Dubai rules on food safety standards are quite fit with Vietnam’s commodity standards. Therefore, its competitive pressures will be quite high and its products must have high quality and competitive price.
Mr Mohammed Ali Al Kamali, a representative of Dubai Exports, noted that the current trade turnover between Vietnam and Dubai is growing. This demonstrates high interests and great cooperation potential of both sides. Vietnam’s major exports to Dubai include agricultural products, seafood, electronics, machinery and electronic components. However, Vietnam’s current exports to Dubai outweighed Dubai’s exports to Vietnam. He hoped that the new air route will increase opportunities and narrow the trade gap between the two sides.
VCCI Vice President Hoang Quang Phong also affirmed that Vietnamese businesses have actively participated in trade fairs in Dubai and VCCI will continue to support businesses to participate in trade fairs and take advantage of opportunities to boost exports to Dubai.
Thu Ha
Vietnamese
