Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Dang Khanh Thoai outlined Vietnam’s investment attraction policy over the past few years and its great demand for the manufacturing machinery, which plays a key role in its process of national industrialisation and modernisation.

Businesses from the Emilia Romagna region showed keen interest in investment in Vietnam and acknowledged the country as a potential and lucrative market for small and medium-sized enterprises in the region.

Vietnam wants Italy to help it with the training of skilled workers and hopes Italy will take part in bidding activities for major industrial projects in Vietnam, said Mr Thoai.

In 2010, Emilia Romagna will consider Vietnam an important target for investment and expansion.

Italy’s investment in Vietnam is still far from matching both countries’ potential. Last year Italy ranked 33^rd among countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with 43 projects capitalized at US$162 million.