Vietnamese Days in Germany - An Opportunity for Promoting Economic and Cultural Ties

‘Vietnamese Days in Germany,’ is a programme to be held in Berlin from November 29 to December 1, 2005 by as the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) to co-operate with ministries and agencies of Vietnam and Germany as assigned by the Vietnamese Prime Minister. The programme aims to boost political, economic and cultural ties between Vietnam and Germany, and the EU as a whole.

 

Statistics show that in 2004, total export and import turnover between Vietnam and Germany reached US$1.791 billion, up by 24.79 per cent against 2003. Of the figure, Vietnam earned US$1.017 billion from exporting goods and services. The remaining US$679.9 million went to import turnover. This year, the two countries’ trade exchange value is expected to increase by between 18 and 20 per cent against 2004. Vietnam’s major exports to Germany include textiles, garments, footwear, coffee, calculators, handicrafts, tea, tobacco materials, canned fruit, bee honey, seafood, rubber, pottery and ceramic products, small-sized equipment, tool machines and bicycles. Vietnam imports machines, equipment, materials, synthetic fabrics, steel and iron products, chemicals, electronic products, PC accessories, precise mechanic and optic products, medicines, office equipment, rubber products, cotton, food and drinks.

 

Regarding investment, by August 2005, Germany had had 60 operational projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of around US$260 million. Total realised capital of the projects reached US$125 million. Germany is 22^nd among 71 countries and territories and fifth among 25 EU countries, which have invested in Vietnam. In general, Germany’s investment in Vietnam remains modest in comparison to the two countries’ co-operation potential. Each project developed by German enterprises has an average capital of US$4.3 million. Projects concentrate mainly in industry, construction and services in the form of joint venture companies. Some multi-national corporations of Germany, which have developed projects in Vietnam, include Cash & Carry, Daimler Chrysler, Siemens, Deutsche Bank and Allianz.

 

It is expected that around 100 Vietnamese enterprises will accompany ministers and heads of the Governmental Office to attend the Vietnamese Days in Germany. Pham Gia Tuc, general secretary of VCCI, said that the event would consist of a trade, investment and tourism forum, contact meetings between Vietnamese and German enterprises to seek investment and business opportunities, an exhibition entitled ‘Specific Vietnam’ to introduce Vietnam’s major exports to Germany; a showroom of pictures and paintings of the Vietnamese land and people, a gala dinner to introduce Vietnamese food, and other activities to introduce the Vietnamese investment and business environment.

 

After the Vietnamese Days in Germany, the Vietnamese enterprises’ delegation will pay a visit to Switzerland and Italy for market exploration. In Zurich, Switzerland, and Rome, Italy, the Vietnamese enterprises will hold working sessions with their Swiss and Italian partners. These will be useful activities for Vietnamese enterprises, helping them get more information about the two markets.