Recently, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), in collaboration with the Barcelona Port Authority, organised trade promotion seminars in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, creating opportunities for the business communities in Vietnam and Spain.
The Trade Mission was led by Mr Damià Calvet, Regional Director for Territory and Sustainability, and Ms Mercè Conesa, President of Barcelona Port Authority, with the participation of more than 40 businesses. The aim of the Barcelona Port's multi-sector delegation (including import and export and logistics and port companies) is to strengthen the business and institutional relations between Vietnam and Catalonia, and to create business opportunities and internationalise companies and develop the logistics community of Barcelona.
According to Mr Hoang Quang Phong, Vice President of VCCI, Vietnam and Spain have a long tradition and close cooperation in many fields. In December 2009, on the occasion of the Presidential visit to Spain, the two sides set up a strategic partnership for the future, marking a deep and comprehensive step forward in bilateral relations. In 2017, Vietnam and Spain celebrated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with great achievements in all fields of politics-diplomacy, economics-commerce, security-defence, science-technology, education-training, culture and tourism.
Currently, Vietnam is the main trading partner of Spain in ASEAN countries. Two-way trade has increased at an average annual rate of about 15 per cent/year, reaching more than US$3 billion in 2017. The two sides set a target to raise trade to US$5 billion by 2020.
By 2017, Spain's FDI inflows to Vietnam ranked 14th in 19 EU countries and ranked 57 out of 101 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Although the sector is limited in number of projects, there is great potential for European capital and quality. Among the major investment projects in Vietnam, there are some important projects including investment by REPSOL, a leading global energy company in Vietnam; High-tech electronic parts factory of PREMO Group in Da Nang, and consultant of Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway construction of GETINSA.
Spanish investors have rich experience in renewable energy, infrastructure, tourism, high technology, construction and architecture, and this will be a valuable contribution to Vietnam. The reform of the legal framework and the adoption of the FTA with the EU by the end of 2018 will undoubtedly reinforce Spanish companies' confidence in the Vietnamese market.
Despite the good traditional relations, the annual export turnover is still not matching the potential and expectations of the two sides. In order to promote relations between Vietnam and Spain in general, as well as in Catalonia in particular, Mr Phong said that the two sides should focus on expanding, developing trade, cooperation, investment, particularly, it is necessary to organise business delegations to examine each other's markets, intensify the supply of information and introduce the investment business environment.
"Spain has many strengths in areas where Vietnam is also interested in and focused on. In addition, the maritime sector is also an area where the two sides need to promote close cooperation, from the level of management agencies to businesses," he said.
He affirmed that, as the national trade promotion agency, VCCI pledged to support Spanish businessmen and investors in Vietnam. He also expected the two countries' businesses to establish investment cooperation in line with their potential and interests, especially in areas where Vietnam is encouraging investment, such as new energy, renewable energy, supporting industries and tourism.
At the seminar in Hanoi, President of Barcelona Port Authority, Ms Mercè Conesa said that besides creating connections between importers and exporters of both parties, one of the important objectives of the meeting was to establish strategic alliances between the Port of Barcelona and ports of Vietnam such as Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City.
Barcelona Port is productive, and adopts advanced technology and quality service in Europe and the world. Currently, there are many maritime routes linking Barcelona Port with Vietnamese seaports, and cargo exchanges between the two sides through maritime routes.
After meeting with businessmen in Hanoi, the Spanish business delegation came to Ho Chi Minh City. In addition to working days and technical customs workshops, the delegation also visited the facilities of Saigon New Port Corp, the main container port operator in Vietnam. Barcelona Port accounts for 40 per cent of total foreign trade between Spain and Vietnam in value terms. In 2017, seaport trade between Barcelona and Vietnamese ports increased by 19 per cent.
Anh Mai
Vietnamese
