Finland open to more trade with Viet Nam

May 04, 2013 | 11:12

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Vietnamese businesses are being encouraged to export more textiles, furniture, footwear products and ICT equipment to Finland.

Employees work at the Gia Dinh Textile and Garment Company, an exporter to the EU, including Finland.
The European nation has encouraged more imports from Vietnamese companies.
VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Vu

This was announced by the Finnish Ambassador to Viet Nam, Kimmo Lahdervirta, at a conference in central Thua Thien Hue Province yesterday.

Lahdervirta said the two countries were looking for new ways of co-operation, including partnerships between companies and institutions.

In the 40 years of Viet Nam-Finland diplomatic relations, Finland has assisted the country with about $400 million in development programmes.

According to Lahdervirta, the countries have strong potential for trade as the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement is being negotiated.

Vietnamese exports of footwear, furniture, textiles and clothing products, and Information and Communication Technology equipment to Finland rose 18 per cent in 2012.

Meanwhile, imports of Finnish forestry-related and machinery products rose 10 per cent.

The ambassador said Vietnamese businesses and institutions should contact Finnish agencies and the 100 Finnish businesses already represented in Viet Nam for co-operation in new fields, including renewable energy and clean technology.

He added that Finland could act as a Vietnamese bridge to other Nordic countries.

The central province has invited Finnish partners to its tourism, education, and healthcare sectors as well as to its Chan May deep seaport and Phu Bai Industrial Park.

Forty local businesses attended the conference. A similar conference will be held in central Da Nang City on Monday.

VNS

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