The figures were released by Vo Tan Thanh, Director of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)’s chapter in Ho Chi Minh City, at a Vietnam-India Business Forum on March 7.

Thanh added that the two countries aim to raise the trade value to US$7 billion in 2012. To date, India has invested more than US$770 million in Vietnam, mainly in the fields of health care, coffee, black carbon, and sugar.

Minister of Commerce and Industry and Textiles Anand Sharman said as Vietnam and India mark the 40^th anniversary of their diplomatic ties this year, bilateral cooperation will be further fostered, especially in energy, information technology, health care and infrastructure, which are India’s strengths.

Sharman is leading a delegation from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) to visit Vietnam.

The forum was organized by VCCI and the Indian Consulate General in HCM City, attracting 20 leading Indian businesses and many other Vietnamese partners.