The 3rd ASEAN-EU Business Summit kicked off in Hanoi on March 9with the participation of 700 businesses from the two regions.
As part of the 19th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat and the 12thASEAN Economic Ministers-EU Trade Commissioner Consultations, the eventwas jointly organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and theVietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Opening thesummit, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said the event creates conditionsfor the business community in ASEAN and the EU to enhance cooperationand links, and express their business expectations.
Itis even more significant in the context that ASEAN is on the last stepsto establishing the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015, he said.
As a coordinator between ASEAN and the EU, Vietnam supports thedevelopment of more intense and effective trade and investmentcooperation between ASEAN and the EU in order to reach a new height, theGovernment leader affirmed.
To reach this aim, the EUand a number of ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, are negotiatingbilateral free trade agreements to create a firm ground for futureASEAN-EU comprehensive cooperation, he said.
Since itjoined ASEAN in 1995, Vietnam has been an active and responsiblemember of the group, Dung said, citing the country’s contributions tobuilding ASEAN into a united and strong bloc for prosperity andcooperation in the region.
He also affirmed ASEAN’simportant role in Vietnam ’s international integration policy, addingthat the country is becoming a gateway for international investors andbusinesses to access and expand their investment in the region as wellas free trade markets between ASEAN and partners.
“Wepraise and encourage the involvement of the business community in jointefforts to enhance relations between the two blocs,” he said.
The PM described effective investment cooperation and the successfuloperations of businesses as a foundation and important contribution toASEAN-EU relations.
Establishing the ASEAN EconomicCommunity (AEC) is the bloc’s chief goal, Dung said, noting that theassociation’s efforts have been applauded by the business community.
The AEC is expected to create favourable conditions for the rotationof investment flows and trade exchanges, and help businesses expandoperations, bringing great benefits to the 600 million people of ASEANcountries.
The ten-nation association is also makingefforts to cooperate more intensively and extensively with partners inthe region and world.
ASEAN always attaches importance to working with the EU for sustainable development and common prosperity, Dung said.
Addressing the event, EU Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht said thepresence of many EU businesses here proves their attention to ASEAN.
He underlined the need for the two sides to facilitate investment,coordinate closely and support businesses in order to realise theircommon goals.
ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minhsaid despite risks caused by the global economy, ASEAN and the EU stillpossess favourable conditions for economic development.
He called on the two sides to tighten their coordination to cope with the impacts of the global economic turmoil.
Minh highly valued the significant role of the private sector andproposed that the Government encourages its participation in investment.
At the event, businessmen focused theirdiscussions on opportunities, challenges and experience in investment,as well as running businesses in ASEAN.
They touchupon a wide range of issues regarding agriculture, the auto industry,financial services, information technology-telecommunications,infrastructure, pharmaceutical products and healthcare.
ASEAN-EU trade and investment relations are developing positively withtwo-way trade increasing to 234.8 billion USD in 2011.
In 2012, the EU topped the list of FDI investors in ASEAN and was ASEAN’s third largest trading partner.
The EU is Vietnam ’s second largest trading partner and leading importer of Vietnamese commodities.
Last year, bilateral trade between Vietnam and the EU stood at 29.1billion USD, of which Vietnam ’s exports to Europe accounted for 20.3billion USD. Imports from the EU amounted to 8.8 billion USD.
Vietnam ’s major exports to the EU include footwear, garments and textiles, coffee, wood products and seafood.
By October last year, the EU had 1,781 FDI projects in Vietnamwith a total registered capital of 33.4 billion USD, predominately inindustry and construction.-VNA
As part of the 19th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat and the 12thASEAN Economic Ministers-EU Trade Commissioner Consultations, the eventwas jointly organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and theVietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Opening thesummit, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said the event creates conditionsfor the business community in ASEAN and the EU to enhance cooperationand links, and express their business expectations.
Itis even more significant in the context that ASEAN is on the last stepsto establishing the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015, he said.
As a coordinator between ASEAN and the EU, Vietnam supports thedevelopment of more intense and effective trade and investmentcooperation between ASEAN and the EU in order to reach a new height, theGovernment leader affirmed.
To reach this aim, the EUand a number of ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, are negotiatingbilateral free trade agreements to create a firm ground for futureASEAN-EU comprehensive cooperation, he said.
Since itjoined ASEAN in 1995, Vietnam has been an active and responsiblemember of the group, Dung said, citing the country’s contributions tobuilding ASEAN into a united and strong bloc for prosperity andcooperation in the region.
He also affirmed ASEAN’simportant role in Vietnam ’s international integration policy, addingthat the country is becoming a gateway for international investors andbusinesses to access and expand their investment in the region as wellas free trade markets between ASEAN and partners.
“Wepraise and encourage the involvement of the business community in jointefforts to enhance relations between the two blocs,” he said.
The PM described effective investment cooperation and the successfuloperations of businesses as a foundation and important contribution toASEAN-EU relations.
Establishing the ASEAN EconomicCommunity (AEC) is the bloc’s chief goal, Dung said, noting that theassociation’s efforts have been applauded by the business community.
The AEC is expected to create favourable conditions for the rotationof investment flows and trade exchanges, and help businesses expandoperations, bringing great benefits to the 600 million people of ASEANcountries.
The ten-nation association is also makingefforts to cooperate more intensively and extensively with partners inthe region and world.
ASEAN always attaches importance to working with the EU for sustainable development and common prosperity, Dung said.
Addressing the event, EU Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht said thepresence of many EU businesses here proves their attention to ASEAN.
He underlined the need for the two sides to facilitate investment,coordinate closely and support businesses in order to realise theircommon goals.
ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minhsaid despite risks caused by the global economy, ASEAN and the EU stillpossess favourable conditions for economic development.
He called on the two sides to tighten their coordination to cope with the impacts of the global economic turmoil.
Minh highly valued the significant role of the private sector andproposed that the Government encourages its participation in investment.
At the event, businessmen focused theirdiscussions on opportunities, challenges and experience in investment,as well as running businesses in ASEAN.
They touchupon a wide range of issues regarding agriculture, the auto industry,financial services, information technology-telecommunications,infrastructure, pharmaceutical products and healthcare.
ASEAN-EU trade and investment relations are developing positively withtwo-way trade increasing to 234.8 billion USD in 2011.
In 2012, the EU topped the list of FDI investors in ASEAN and was ASEAN’s third largest trading partner.
The EU is Vietnam ’s second largest trading partner and leading importer of Vietnamese commodities.
Last year, bilateral trade between Vietnam and the EU stood at 29.1billion USD, of which Vietnam ’s exports to Europe accounted for 20.3billion USD. Imports from the EU amounted to 8.8 billion USD.
Vietnam ’s major exports to the EU include footwear, garments and textiles, coffee, wood products and seafood.
By October last year, the EU had 1,781 FDI projects in Vietnamwith a total registered capital of 33.4 billion USD, predominately inindustry and construction.-VNA
