Embassy in Italy hosts online Tet gathering for Vietnamese community

At the event, ambassador Nguyen Thi Bich Hue reviewed the Vietnamese community’s major activities as well as their contributions to the homeland in 2021.

Among the activities, she said the community lobbied local administrations to support vaccines, drugs and medical equipment for Vietnam’s COVID-19 fight. They also carried out charity activities to help needy children in the homeland, along with teaching Vietnamese and supporting businesses in both Italy and Vietnam.

The diplomat noted that despite the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, the two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Italy still grossed US$5.6 billion, of which Vietnamese exports reached US$3.8 billion, up 22% and imports were US$1.8 billion, up 19% thanks to the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Union (EVFTA).

Ambassador Hue expressed hope that the Vietnamese community and organizations like ASSOEVI will continue to design positive activities and make more practical contributions to the homeland.

The delegates raised ideas for ASSOEVI to boost cooperation between the two countries’ businesses, through enhancing information transmission, supporting legal procedures, and conducting research and surveys to seek investment and business opportunities.

Established in June 2011, ASSOEVI gathers most of Vietnamese businesses in Italy with the goal of uniting, improving the capacity of its members, and creating an environment for cooperation and information exchange between Vietnamese enterprises in their host country.

The association also aims to introduce and promote Vietnamese goods and services in Italy, as well as to strengthen economic-trade cooperation between Italy and Vietnam.