Canberra(VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that Vietnam always welcomes andgives optimal conditions for Australian enterprises to seek investmentopportunities in the country during his meeting with leaders of a number ofAustralian firms on March 16.

The meeting drew manyleading local companies in agriculture, rice production, health care, tourism,water treatment, and infrastructure building, including ICON, HunterNet, Sunrice,Veolia and Webjet.

PM Phuc lauded thecooperation between these companies and their Vietnamese peers, proposing theycontinue expanding coordination and help transfer technology, equipment, humanresources management and training to Vietnamese firms, while giving suitablematerial and technology prices to enhance capacity for Vietnam.

The VietnameseGovernment leader, who is on his official visit to Australia from March 14-18,said that Vietnam is speeding up the equitisation of many large firms as wellas   those operating in important areasof the economy such as power production and retail, mining, finance-banking andtelecommunications services.

Vietnam encouragesAustralian businesses to engage in this process together with domestic and foreignenterprises, he stated.

He said he will directministries, sectors and localities to continue working with the companies toseek suitable cooperation opportunities and promptly support them in findinglocation for their facilities and material areas as well as in human resourcessupply.

He suggested that theAustralian firms discuss with Vietnamese relevant agencies on details of their plannedprojects in Vietnam.

The PM expressed hishope that with their experience and technology, Australian firms will continuegiving consultations and sharing experience with Vietnamese businesses inproject management, while giving solutions and advanced tools to reduce investmentcosts and make projects become more friendly to the environment.

Noting Vietnam’s greatpotential in agriculture and food, he asked Australian firms to step upcollaboration with Vietnamese peers in the fields.

Representatives fromAustralian firms spoke highly of Vietnam’s economic growth and its improved investmentenvironment and institutional reform.

They said they arekeen on expanding investment in Vietnam in information technology,telecommunications, renewable energy (solar, wind and bio energy), fundmanagement, agriculture and tourism.

They also asked forsupport of the Vietnamese PM and Government in developing projects inVietnam.-VNA