Vietnam-India partnership on momentum

The webinar “India – an emerging global power and its relationship with Vietnam” is among the series of activities under the India@75 initiative of the government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of progressive India and the glorious history of its people, culture, and achievements.

The Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City is also celebrating by conducting a series of webinars in the areas of India’s socio-cultural, political, and economic identity to enhance interaction, engagement, and promote mutual understanding between the people of India and Vietnam. The series started on August 13, 2021 and last until September 15, 2021 with a variety of activities.

Shri Pranay Verma, Ambassador of India to Vietnam stated, “The celebration of India’s 75th Independence Day is an occasion for us to reaffirm our commitment to take our special relationship, our comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam to newer heights. It is also appropriate to recall that these 50 years and even longer since our independence has been a remarkable journey of togetherness for both India and Vietnam."

"The two countries not only overcame adversity but also supported and inspired each other in their pursuit of nation building," he continued. "The depth of our ties has been affirmed frequently in our relations, most recently when we elevated our relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016.”

The partnership today spans a wide range of collaboration from political engagement to economic and development partnership, defence and security cooperation, energy partnership, cultural exchanges, and people contact despite the disruptions caused by the COVDI-19 pandemic.

Last year, the trade volume between the two countries continued to cross $10 billion, showing a promising future for business ties between the two fast growing economies.

Shyam Saran, ex-Foreign Secretary of India claimed that Vietnam itself has had very remarkable progress in its economic and social development. The country has become one of the pretty vibrant and dynamic economies in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam has been registering a 6-7 per cent rate of growth in the industrial economy. It has become a magnet for foreign investment. Its exports are around $300 million today which is almost the same as India.

“India and Vietnam are very dynamic economies. They are still growing quite rapidly. There is a certain kind of complementarity between the Indian and Vietnam economy. India has made certain contributions to Vietnam’s economic development, but it also sees Vietnam as an important and a growing market. Vietnam is also a country which India can work with to impact and set up a stronger partnership,” he added.