Firms from the US state of Washington are seeking to invest in Vietnam’s education, human resource development, and transport sectors, state media cited senior official of the US’s Tacoma World Trade Center Monday in Hanoi.
The managing director made remarks during the talk with Hanoi authorities, adding US businesses are also keen on training software experts for Hanoi, and investing in intellectual property.
Preferential policies, better infrastructure, and geographical position are among important factors attracting the state’s firms to invest in Hanoi, the director added.
At the meeting with leaders of the Hanoi City People’s Committee, the committee’s vice chairman Phi Thai Binh announced Hanoi needs over US$6 billion for development from now to 2010.
He emphasized this is a big opportunity for US investors, and pledged to create the best conditions for investment.
Meanwhile, Trieu Viet Phuc, Director of the city’s Planning and Investment Department informed the guests of its projects waiting for investment, which are in industry, electronics, construction materials, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Hanoi will also prioritize hi-tech parks, trading zones, hospitals and high-grade hotels, and is now building two vocational schools, and will build and upgrade the transport network.
The 29-member delegation, headed by Washington’s State Secretary Sam Reed and executive director of Tacoma World Trade Center, will tour Haiphong, Vinh, HCM City, Can Tho and My Tho City besides Hanoi to seek investment opportunities.
Washington State has many developed industries such as aircraft manufacturing, software development, electronics, biological research, aluminum production, woodworking, and mining.
In 2006, the US held the fourth position among foreign investors in Vietnam, with 47 projects capitalized at nearly US$640 million.
Recently many US delegations have been in Vietnam to study investment and trade policies. The biggest ever US delegation comprising 18 US groups visited Vietnam from May 3-7, right before this delegation. This raises hopes among local experts for a bright future in Vietnam-US relations. (Vietnam Economic Times)
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