The road ahead for Vietnam-EU FTA” was the theme of a seminar in Hanoi
on November 29.
The event, co-organised by the
Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the European Chamber of
Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), provided an opportunity for Vietnamese and
European businesses to update information on the first round of negotiations
and the deadline Vietnam set for its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the EU, as
well as Vietnam’s economic prospects and future challenges.
Speaking at the event, VCCI Vice
President Doan Duy Khuong said that Vietnam and the EU have always enjoyed good
relations. Especially in light of 2013 when many EU countries will celebrate
the 40th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties with Vietnam.
The EU accounts for over 80% of
Vietnam’s total import-export turnover. In 2011, despite the global economic
downturn and the debt crisis in some European countries, two-way trade between
the EU and Vietnam still increased 36% from previous years, to over $24
billion.
According to Khuong, Vietnam is
in the midst of its implementation of its 2011-2020 socio-economic development
strategy, which serves as a gateway to a dynamic region and an ASEAN Economic
Community by 2015.
Vietnam and the EU signed the
Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA) and began negotiations for the FTA
in June 2012. The agreement is expected to bring economic benefits to both
sides by gradually removing technical barriers in trade and creating more
opportunities for the two sides to increase competitiveness in international
economic integration, Khuong added.
The FTA will create a more
favourable environment for Vietnam when zero duties are introduced to almost
all commodities, including agricultural products, food, footwear and garments,
said Luong Hoang Thai, head of the Multilateral Trade Policies Department of
the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).
He also expected increasing
investment from European businesses in Vietnam once the agreement is signed.
According to Jean Jacques
Bouflet, Minister Counsellor and head of Trade and Economic Section of the EU
delegation to Vietnam , there is great potential for Vietnam-EU economic and
trade relations. The EU market has a 500 million-strong population at its
disposal, and will provide many opportunities for Vietnamese goods.
The EU ranked fourth among
Vietnam’s foreign direct investors in 2011, with $1.77 billion pledged
investment. It has been an important provider of official development
assistance (ODA) to Vietnam over the past years.
Bouflet expressed his belief that
the Vietnam-EU FTA will open a sustainable entrance for both sides’ products
and services.
It will bring to Vietnam not only
visible but also invisible benefits that will improve the country’s economy in
the global production chain, he added.
VIR/VNA
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