Berlin (VNA) – A delegation from Vietnam's Mekong Delta province of Long An and German enterprises gathered at a roundtable in the city of Cologne on November 18 to explore new horizons in trade and investment.

Leading the Long An delegation was Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Council Nguyen Van Duoc.

In his opening speech, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Huynh Van Son highlighted Long An's proactive business trips to Germany and the province's eagerness to tap into German expertise in automobile manufacturing, industrial machinery, medical equipment, logistics, renewable energy, financial services, and quality workforce training.

Despite Germany's modest investment in Long An thus far, totaling 66 million USD across 10 projects, the potential for growth is immense, he said.

Frank Hemig, Deputy Executive Director of the Cologne Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK Cologne), underscored Cologne's strategic importance as an European transportation hub and a powerhouse for key industries. He extended a warm welcome to the Vietnamese delegation, expressing IHK Cologne's interest in investment opportunities in Long An.

Dang Thi Thanh Phuong, Vietnamese Commercial Counselor in Germany, underlined the complementary strengths of Vietnamese and German localities, positioning Long An as an ideal destination for German firms on the back of its skilled and abundant workforce, investor-friendly policies, and strengths in agriculture and trade.

Truong Van Liep, Director of the provincial Department of Planning and Investment, highlighted the province's success in attracting FDI from 41 countries and territories, with a total of 1,367 projects worth over 12.5 billion USD. He noted that notable German investments, such as the Messer Group's liquefied gas technology, have already made a substantial impact on local economic growth.

Chief Representative of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Vietnam (AHK Vietnam) Peter Komppala spotlighted Vietnam's goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, which presents not only a challenge but also a great opportunity for German enterprises, especially in green energy and sustainable development, automation and industry 4.0, and quality workforce training.

Duoc, for his part, proposed the establishment of the Long An-Cologne industrial park in Long An province as a dedicated hub for German businesses. He called on the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), the Vietnam Trade Office in Germany, and relevant German agencies to support this visionary project.

The roundtable also witnessed the signing of a letter of commitment for a 50 million USD renewable energy project by Hoang Gia Investment Group, alongside a Memorandum of Understanding between Long An Industrial Park JSC and Germany’s Quickpack on the development of a packaging factory in the Southeast Asia Industrial Park.

𒉰 On November 19, the Long An delegation will attend the first Vietnam Dialogue in Frankfurt, focusing on financial cooperation between Vietnam and Europe./.