Czech Republic expects Vietnam to become strategic economic partner
VOV.VN - Vietnam has the potential to become a strategic economic partner of the Czech Republic in future, said Czech Deputy Ministry of Industry and Trade Petr Tresnak at the recent Czech-Vietnamese Business Forum.
Tresnak emphasised the necessity of ramping up co-ordination, including participating in trade fairs, among businesses and craft associations from both sides in order to further promote economic and trading ties.
Vietnam is a potential market in Southeast Asia for Czech firms, particularly with its political stability, important geostrategic location, and an economy that boasts high and sustainable growth, he said.
Moving into the post-COIVD period, both sides must utilise opportunities brought about by the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to further increase trade, investment, and tourism activities, as well as ratifying the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) as swiftly as possible, he noted.
At the event, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Dang Hoang An revealed that the EU is a major investor in Vietnam with over 2,300 projects capitalised at US$22 billion, including 41 Czech-invested projects worth US$92 million. Meanwhile, Vietnamese firms have also poured US$44 million into the Central European country.
An expressed his hope that the event will serve as a platform for businesses to gain greater insights into the strengths of each other and ramp up co-operation in potential fields such as trade, investment, and tourism in future.
Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the total import-export turnover between Vietnam and the Czech Republic last year increased by 32.5% compared to 2020, of which Vietnamese exports recorded a surge of 37.3% to US$583 million.
