A conference to foster investment opportunities and trade exchanges
between Vietnam and Finland took place in central Thua Thien-Hue
province on May 3.
As part of activities to mark
the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the
event was co-organised by the provincial People’s Committee and the
Finnish Embassy in Vietnam.
Speaking at the
event, Finnish Ambassador to Vietnam Kimmo Lahdevirta emphasised that
there are various trade-cooperation opportunities between the two
countries, especially when the Vietnam–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is
to be signed.
The conference helps Finland
determine whether Vietnamese small and medium–sized enterprises (SMEs)
and the province’s SMEs in particular are able to cooperate with Finnish
partners, said Lahdevirta.
It also offers support
instruments and business information to domestic firms that want to
cooperate with Finnish partners, he added.
The
diplomat said Vietnamese firms and research institutes need to establish
cooperative relations with Finnish representative agencies as well as
the 100 enterprises operating in Vietnam to seek business
opportunities in renewable energy and clean technology.
During the event, participants delivered each country’s socio-economic
situation, investment cooperation opportunities and business relations
between Finland and Vietnam, and Thua Thien-Hue in particular.
The Finnish side introduced its Embassy’s support mechanism to
Vietnamese enterprises, which helps them find partners and boost exports
to Finland and northern European countries.
By
the end of 2012, Finland ranked 26 th among 98 foreign investors in
Vietnam with eight projects worth a total of 336 million USD.
Finland is executing two projects to help Thua Thien–Hue province
develop its agricultural information management system.-VNA