New Delhi (VNA) – Vietnamese Ambassador to Bangladesh Nguyen ManhCuong led a working delegation of the embassy and Vietnamese businesses to visitChittagong city to seek ways to boost bilateral collaboration in variousfields.

The port city is an important economic engine of Bangladesh, as every year it generates morethan 40% of industrial output and 80% of international trade, and contributesmore than 50% of national revenue. Chittagong Port alone currently contributesabout 92% of the country's total import and export value.

Receiving the delegation, Mayor RezaulKarim Chowdhury proposed the two sides coordinate in holding cultural andpeople-to-people exchanges to contribute to enhancing mutual understanding.

As the coastal city is facing salineintrusion, natural disasters and marine pollution, Chittagong wants to learn fromVietnam’s experiences in addressing these problems, he stated.

Emphasising that Vietnam boasts a coastlineof more than 3,200 km with many large port cities, Cuong suggested thetwo sides research and consider the possibility of establishing twinnedrelationships between localities of the two countries.

The two countries can learn from eachother's experiences in the fields of shipbuilding, shipping, and aquaticproduct processing and preservation, he said, adding that Vietnam is ready toshare its experiences.

Meeting Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail, Chairmanof the Chittagong Port Authority, the Vietnamese diplomat stressed the need forthe two countries to intensify cooperation activities between port cities and createfavourable conditions for the two business communities to bring their productsto each other’s market.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese embassyand the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised a policy forum ontrade and investment promotion.

Representatives of businesses from the twocountries discussed the advantages and difficulties in understandingthe market, legal regulations and administrative procedures to implementinvestment and business cooperation activities in each country. Among theissues discussed, high import taxes in Bangladesh and visas to Vietnam receivedthe attention of many enterprises.

Regarding the visa granting, Ambassador Cuongsaid that since August this year, Vietnam has issued e-visas to applicants fromall countries and territories in the world, including Bangladesh. Therefore,Bangladeshi businesses can carry out related procedures conveniently andquickly.

The embassy is coordinating with relevantagencies to promote the opening of direct air routes between the countries.

After the forum, several business cooperationagreements and contracts between the two countries’ enterprises were signed./.