PM Chinh calls for greater Dutch investment in Vietnam

The Vietnamese cabinet leader made the statement during the Vietnam-Netherland Business Forum held on December 12 as part of his official visit the European nation.

During the course of the forum, businesses and agencies of the two countries exchanged, proposed, and created fresh ideas and new opportunities for business investment in the post-pandemic economic recovery period. This was done as part of efforts to further ramp up economic, trade, and investment ties between the two sides in a more practical and effective manner.

Upon addressing the event, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Liesje Schreinemacher said that the two countries are partners, especially in the field of climate change response. She also suggested that the business communities of both nations strive to make effective use of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

As part of his remarks, PM Chinh highlighted the sound relations between the two countries over the past five decades and analysed the important foundations for further promoting trade and investment relations.

Most notably, the strong friendship and co-operation between the two countries has been consistently developing across a multitude of fields, thereby becoming increasingly substantive and effective, essentially being based on sharing comprehensive benefits, co-operation results, and cultivated friendship.

The Vietnamese Government chief emphasized that the Netherlands has a lot of investment experience in the Vietnamese market and is the largest investor among EU nations currently investing in the nation, whilst it is also the country’s second largest trading partner in Europe.

Many Dutch products are very familiar to Vietnamese consumers, such as Heineken beer and Dutch Lady milk.

The nation has signed a total of 15 free trade agreements (FTAs) with over 60 countries and territories globally, including the largest markets in the world. By maintaining political stability, security, and the safety of citizens, the country has enjoyed peaceful, friendly, and co-operative external relations with other nations, a very important factors for investors, PM Chinh went on to say.

He expressed his hope that following the visit trade and investment co-operation between the two countries will be further promoted moving forward.

However, PM Chinh stated that still being a developing country with an economy in transition, the nation is currently facing numerous difficulties and global problems that no country can solve on its own, including climate change adaptation.

Due to these issues, the Vietnamese side upholds multilateralism and international solidarity and calls for an approach aimed at ensuring fairness and justice in climate change response when the nation has to work like other developed countries.

The Vietnamese Government chief therefore proposed that development partners and investors in the country provide technology support, human resource training, administration, and construction. This should be done whilst helping it to fine-tune institutions and build a clean energy industry as a means of fully tapping into the great potential of wind power and solar power.

In the future, through the efforts and determination of the two sides, as well as the strong friendship of the two peoples, PM Chinh believes that investment and trade co-operation will continue to be an important pillar in Vietnam-Netherlands ties. It will serve as a driving force to bring the partnership between the two countries to  new heights.

Also at the forum, the Vietnamese Government leader and his delegation witnessed the signing of a number of co-operation agreements and documents between both nations' businesses and agencies.

The same day saw PM Chinh hold a working session with representatives from the Dutch Business Association Vietnam (DBAV) and the Netherlands-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce (NVCC), as well as receive leaders of several leading Dutch groups.

Meeting Joost Vrancken Peeters, president of the DBAV and the NVCC, he hailed the role of the two associations in promoting Dutch investments in the Vietnamese market, particularly as they have helped Vietnamese businesses participate in regional and global supply chains.

The Vietnamese Government pledges to offer favourable conditions and help Dutch firms  conduct long-term business and investment in the country, thus contributing to promoting  bilateral economic co-operation.

PM Chinh also met with leading officials of Harvest Waste, De Heus, Nedspice, and Climate Fund Manager.