Ninh Binh (VNA) – A delegation from the People’s Council of the northern province of Ninh Binh led by its Chairman Mai Van Tuat visited Belgium as part of its European trip from May 13-14ꦡ.

While in Belgium, the delegation held a working session with the Brussels Enterprises Commerce and Industry (BECI) that represents more than 35,000 Belgian firms. Speaking at the meeting, Tuat, who is also Standing Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, briefed the Belgian side on the geography, history, potential, strengths, and socio-economic development strategy of Ninh Binh, providing an insight into the local investment environment and opportunities. Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Song Tung spoke of Ninh Binh’s planning, trade promotion and investment attraction. Ekaterina Clifford, International Community Manager at BECI, praised the locality’s socio-economic achievements and its development potential and orientations. She also briefed the Vietnamese officials on the business climate in Brussels and BECI services, especially those for enterprises that are seeking cooperation opportunities with Belgian firms. The BECI provides support for startups in Europe and others worldwide, she continued, noting that the chamber stands ready to give advice and assistance to Ninh Binh in trade and investment promotion, and its enterprises that are joining the BECI network. Hailing the role of the chamber in economic promotion, Tuat expressed his hope that Ninh Binh will receive more support from the Belgian chamber, particularly in the areas of Belgium’s strengths like digital transformation, climate change, green transition, circular economy, knowledge-based economy, infrastructure development, and logistics. Ninh Binh pledges to accompany and create all possible conditions for Belgian partners and businesses that come to scope out investment and cooperation opportunities in the locality, the official pledged. Tuat said he believes that the working session will create a premise for Ninh Binh to put forth more orientations for trade promotion and development cooperation between businesses of the two sides. The Ninh Binh delegation also had a working session with the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium, where they were informed about developments of the relations between Vietnam and the European Union (EU) and Belgium. Talking about Ninh Binh’s investment attraction, Tuat said the province prioritises projects on clean, environmentally friendly technologies, organic agriculture, services, and particularly tourism. The official called for further support from the embassy in trade promotion and investment attraction, as well as the implementation of cooperation projects, especially those on eco-tourism, and luxury tourism; high-quality personnel training; infrastructure construction at industrial parks, tourist sites and urban areas; and automobile manufacturing and assembly. Further areas of concentration are supporting industries for automobile and electronic component manufacturing, clean and high-tech industries, and high-tech agriculture. Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao said he believes that the visit will be a success, contributing to fostering economic and trade ties between Vietnam and Belgium, as well as between Ninh Binh and the European country. The diplomat suggested Ninh Binh work out long-term action plans in investment attraction, and pay more heed to tourism promotion. On this occasion, the Ninh Binh delegation had a meeting with the Belgium-Vietnam Friendship Association, during which they touched upon support to Vietnamese students in Belgium, connectivity between universities and colleges of Ninh Binh and Belgium, support to Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims, and trade, tourism and culture exchanges between Ninh Binh and Belgian localities./.