HANOI: Vietnam is keen to promote trade and investment opportunities in collaboration with Pakistan in diverse fields and has voiced hope that economic activities will get a boost as the two sides will be able to capitalise on the bilateral trade potential.
A large delegation, led by Vietnam’s Ambassador to Pakistan Nguyen Xuan Luu and Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Duc Nhuan, visited the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI).
They met businessmen to explore the possibilities of cooperation in areas of mutual interest, said ICCI President Muzzamil Hussain Sabri.
The delegation represented sectors such as textile, electrical equipment, steel, home appliances, agro business, fruit and vegetable, beverages, fisheries, industrial machinery and auto parts.
Nguyen Xuan Luu said this was the second visit of a large business delegation from Vietnam after the February’s trip. “It reflects the high degree of interest in Vietnam for business collaboration with Pakistan,” he added.
He hoped that interaction between Vietnamese entrepreneurs and their Pakistani counterparts would help establish business partnership in potential areas and improve bilateral trade. He also congratulated Pakistan on its 69th Independence Day.
The envoy underscored the need for exploring all opportunities for establishing business linkages between private sectors of Pakistan and Vietnam as businessmen were the main stakeholders in fostering trade and economic ties.
ICCI President Sabri said bilateral trade valuing $420 million fell short of the real potential and both countries needed to facilitate a regular exchange of business delegations and encourage the private sector to explore new avenues of mutual cooperation.
He pointed out that the economy of Pakistan was showing a positive trend and the government too had offered attractive incentives to foreign investors. It was the right time for Vietnamese investors to explore Pakistan for investment and joint ventures, especially in energy, IT, software, infrastructure development, agriculture, education, tourism and other areas of interest.
ICCI Senior Vice President Shakeel Munir expressed the hope that the visit of the Vietnamese delegation would help increase bilateral trade.
