Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The EuropeanChamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) launched the 11th edition of itsannual Whitebook at a conference in Hanoi on March 14, focusing on the futureof economic development in Vietnam.  

The event, entitled “The EVFTA: Driving Industry Digitalisation andTransformation for Vietnam’s Socio-Economic Prosperity”, co-organised by the Ministryof Foreign Affairs and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI),brought together more than 200 participants, including high levelrepresentatives from the Government of Vietnam, provincial leaders from acrossthe country, European ambassadors and the European business community.

The conference highlighted two issues most critical to ensuring the success ofthe next phase of Vietnam’s development, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement(EVFTA) and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

According to Eurocham, taken together, these two issues would help VIetnamfurther integrate into the global economy and the international community. TheFourth Industrial Revolution, through the digitalisation of all sectors andindustries, would make the country more competitive, innovative and betterprepared to embrace job opportunities of the future.

The EVFTA, once ratified and implemented, would advance trade and investmentbetween the EU and Vietnam and give consumers better access to high-qualityEuropean goods and services.

The launch of the Whitebook brought the issues andrecommendations of EuroCham members together under the themes of healthcare,tax and customs and sustainability. At the event, European business leadersdiscussed with the Government issues including logistics and infrastructure,green growth, tax and transfer pricing, human resources, health and legalmatters.

“Overthe last three decades, the Government has successfully transformed Vietnam fromone of the poorest countries in the world to a fast-growing, modern,middle-income nation, said Nicolas Audier, co-chairman of EuroCham.

“Today, Vietnam has the opportunity, through new-generation Free TradeAgreements like the EVFTA, to take the next step up the value chain and becomean even more open and successful leader in the region and on the world stage,”he said.

“If taken on board, the insights and recommendations ofour members will help the Government to unlock the full benefits of the EVFTAand go further and faster on its path of growth and development, reforming Vietnam’slegal framework and business environment and, in the process, improving thelife chances and living standards of millions of Vietnamese citizens.”

“Buildingon the phenomenal socio-economic journey experienced by Vietnam in the past 30years, which has been mainly driven by labour intensive manufacturing, the jobsand growth of the future will predominantly come from the digital economy andhigh-tech jobs related to industry digitalisation of all sectors andindustries,” said Denis Brunetti, co-chairman of EuroCham.

“As European enterprises were a trusted, reliable and secure partner in helpingto develop Vietnam’s earliest telecommunications and ICT networks, drivingsignificant internet usage across the country, our members remain committed anddedicated to helping the country take advantage of the new wave of inclusiveand sustainable digital innovation,” Brunetti said.

“As European enterprises were a trusted, reliable and secure partner in helpingto develop Vietnam’s earliest telecommunications and ICT networks, drivingsignificant internet usage across the country, our members remain committed anddedicated to helping the country take advantage of the new wave of inclusiveand sustainable digital innovation,” Brunetti said.

“Europe contains some of the world’s most innovative, market-leading, andsustainable future-focused companies, and EuroCham’s 11th Whitebook containsthe insights and recommendations of business leaders from these enterprises.Our publication is designed to help Việt Nam adapt to the new opportunitiesthat the Fourth Industrial Revolution will bring, and in so doing, make thecountry increasingly more competitive in the global economy and more attractiveto international trade and investment.”

Hoang Quang Phong, Vice Chairman of the VCCI, hailed the contributions of theEuropean business community in Vietnam.

He said the EU was one of Vietnam’s largest trade partners and therecommendations made by the White Book had been submitted to the Government andwould make significant contributions to improving the business environment inthe country.

The Whitebook is EuroCham’s flagship annual publication, bringing together theinsights and recommendations of the chamber’s over one thousand members. Thepublication includes 20 chapters, covering sectors and industries fromhealthcare to wines & spirits, and ICT to human resources & training.

In the Whitebook, EuroCham members raise the most important issues to theirbusiness operations, and highlight specific actions that the Government couldtake to improve Vietnam’s business environment and legal framework, increasetrade and investment from Europe and make the country even more competitive inthe global marketplace.-VNS/VNA