PM starts tour to three European countries

PM Nguyen Tan Dung and his spouse

The visits are made at the invitations of Dutch PM Mark Rutte, Uzbek PM Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Ukrainian PM Mykola Azarov.

The Vietnamese PM was accompanied by Minister-Chairman of the Office of Government Vu Đuc Đam, Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Đuc Phat, Minister of Construction Trinh Đinh Dung and Minister of Information and Communication Nguyen Bac Son.

*The Netherlands – Europe’s biggest investor in Vietnam

The trade relations between Vietnam and the Netherlands constantly increased, reaching around $2 billion in 2010 and over $900 million in the first half of 2011. The Netherlands is the fourth largest export market of Vietnam in the Europe after Germany, the UK and France.

With 153 projects worth of $5.6 billion, the Netherlands is the biggest European investor in Vietnam and ranked 11th among 92 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

The European country is interested in boosting linkages, sharing experience and supporting Vietnam in such area as climate change, water management, and education.

During the upcoming tour to the Netherlands, the two sides will exchange ways to bolster linkages on climate change, water management, agriculture, petroleum, marine-based economy and logistics and speed up the implementation of their strategic partnership to cope with climate change and water management.

* Boosting VN-Uzbekistan economic, trade and investment ties

The economic and trade relations between the two countries remain modest with bilateral trade staying at $18.6 million in 2010 and $15.56 million in the first half of this year.

During the visit, the two sides will discuss measures to foster economic, trade and investment relations, especially in oil and gas and agriculture.

*Developing VN-Ukraine cooperative ties

On the occasion of the Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych’s visit to Vietnam in March 2011, the two countries signed a joint declaration on establishing comprehensive cooperation partnership and other documents to strengthen bilateral relations.

Two-way trade turnover between the two countries remains modest with $460 million in 2009, nearly $260 million in 2010 and $95 million in the first half of 2011.

By the end of February, 2011, Ukraine had 10 projects in Vietnam with a total capital of $23.3 million.

Vietnam  has invested $3.36 million in Ukraine, mainly in package and hospitality industries. Currently, around 1,000 Vietnamese students are studying in Ukraine.

During the visit to Ukraine scheduled on October 4-6, the two sides would seek ways to fulfill the joint declaration and boost cooperation in the areas like economics, trade, investment, science and technology, education and training.