US business execs meet Vietnamese leaders

September 09, 2011 | 08:30

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Executives from 39 US corporations, including global giants like Google, General Electric, Exxon Mobil, and Boeing, have met some of Vietnam’s new leaders to discuss the economic situation and government’s policies to encourage foreign investment.

Vu Tu Thanh (1st, left), Vietnam Representative uf US-ASEAN Business Council, Stewart Dean (2nd, left), ASEAN President of GE, Alexander Feldman (3rd, left), President of US-ASEAN Business Council, and Steve Okun (2nd, right), Asia-Pacific PR director of KKR at the press conference

They had meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat, Minister of Finance Vuong Dinh Hue, and Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang on Monday and Tuesday.

They also met the chiefs of state-owned enterprises such as Electricity of Vietnam.

Today the delegation will meet with President Truong Tan Sang and Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh.

Alexander Feldman, chairman of the US ASEAN Business Council and organizer of the trip, said the companies appreciated the warm welcome as well as the open and frank discussions they had with the Vietnamese leaders.

Asked about a proposed $7-billion dollar deal between Chevron and PetroVietnam in which the US firm will contribute $2 billion, he said while he could not speak for Chevron, he could see the company was optimistic about the deal.

“However, this visit is not about signing deals, it is more about corporations learning about the government’s policies and direction to adjust their existing investments and consider future ones,” he said.

Steve Okun, Asia-Pacific PR director of KKR, said the message the companies wanted to send to the government was that the US business community was supportive and wanted to assist in any way it could.

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