Brussels (VNA) – There are great opportunities for Belgian investors in the development of seaports in Vietnam, a country owning a coastline of over3,200km, heard aconference held in Anvers city of Belgium on June 12.

The conference was held by the Vietnamese Embassy andVietnam Trade Office in Belgium in coordination with the Belgian-VietnameseAlliance (BVA), the Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) and The Beacon Group,aiming to promote Vietnam-Belgium cooperation in seaport and logistics. The event was also meant to prepare for the Minister-President of the Government of Flanders Jan Jambon’svisit to Vietnam in September.

Addressing the event, Jambon highlighted that Vietnam andFlanders share many similarities, including their strength in seaports. However, he pointed out that there remains plenty of room for the two sides to expand their trade partnership, adding that the two sides should grasp new opportunitiesfrom the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to promote their sustainabledevelopment.

With its strength in digitalisation and multimodaltransport, Belgium can assist Vietnam in optimising the development andoperation of seaports to seize opportunities and overcome challenges in therapidly digitalisation era, he said.

Agreeing with Jambon’s assessments on the bilateralcooperation potential in smart seaport and logistics, Vietnamese AmbassadorNguyen Van Thao said that with its geographical advantages and strategiclocation in the international maritime network, Vietnam pays greatattention to developing the seaport system and logistic centres. He called on Belgianfirms to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in this field for mutual benefit.

At the event, Belgian and Vietnamese firms shared experience andknowledge on opportunities in seaport and logistics sector in Vietnam, as wellas challenges in the field.

Speaking to Vietnam News Agency’s correspondents in Brussels, Geer Dom, Directorfor Europe and the US of DEEP C, a firm that has invested in Vietnam for 20years, said that Vietnam boast great advantages in seaport infrastructure andlogistics. The country with a dynamic and fast growing economy is anattractive destination for foreign investment.

At the same time, Marc van Bouwel, General of ICE-LOFT said that Vietnam'sgeostrategic location creates a huge advantage in shipping, while the 16 freetrade agreements (FTAs) that Vietnam has signed, including the EVFTA, also generate greatopportunities for the maritime transport and logistics sector. This year, whenVietnam and Belgium mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, is agood time for the two sides to further develop the multi-faceted cooperationrelationship, including seaport and logistics cooperation, he added./.