On the occasion of the 38th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Germany, The Vietnam Economic
News spoke with German Ambassador Jutta Frasch about the strategic
partnership between both countries. The strategic partnership was
established in 2011 with the ” Declaration of Hanoi ” signed by
both heads of government, Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister
Nguyen Tan Dung.
* Could you tell us more about economic relations between Vietnam and Germany?
The strategic partnership between our two countries was formed in 2011
by Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in
signing the ” Declaration of Hanoi ” . This declaration has laid a
vital foundation for the strengthening of our bilateral cooperation in
all fields.
In 2012, trade turnover between Vietnam
and Germany surpassed 9 billion USD, an increase of 22 percent compared
to 2011. Vietnamese exports to Germany rose by 27.7 percent, reaching
6.75 billion USD while imports from Germany rose by 9.9 percent,
reaching 2.49 billion USD.
I strongly believe that
these figures will increase in the future, as Vietnam and the EU plan to
sign an FTA on goods, services, investment and protection of
intellectual property rights by 2014. Once the FTA takes effect, tariffs
on agricultural products, footwear, garment and other goods will be cut
to zero.
Total registered capital from German
companies reached more than 1 billion USD, bringing Germany to 22nd
position in nations and territories investing in Vietnam. Additional
capital from German companies reached 188.77 million USD in 2012.
In terms of development cooperation, ODA (Official Development
Assistance) capital that Germany committed as new aid for Vietnam in the
2012-2013 period reached 375.7 million USD, with almost all projects
focusing on three key fields, including vocational training,
environmental protection and energy security. This will help Vietnam
implement its green growth strategy, and ensure the nation’s development
in accordance with the environment and social needs.
* What are your comments on the efficiency of bilateral cooperation projects?
I would like to mention the German House in Ho Chi Minh City, which
serves as a symbol for the strong development of our bilateral ties. The
German House will be built on a very attractive plot in the centre of
Ho Chi Minh City by a private investor. After the German House is built,
the German Consulate General will move into the building together with
German companies and cultural institutions. The house will become a
meeting place for the German and Vietnamese.
German
firms are also involved in extending the city rail network in Ho Chi
Minh City. This project receives financial support from the Asian
Development Bank (ADB), the German Development Bank (KfW) and the
European Investment Bank (EIB) with a total capital of 1.3 billion USD,
including 340 million USD from Germany.
The
project’s purpose is to create a safe and convenient transport system
for passengers as well as enhance economic growth of the city.
Our collaboration in the field of vocational training is developing
well. The German model on linking universities and enterprises remains
popular and successful in our country and the world. In Germany,
students study in school and at the same time they are trained in a
business.
I believe that this model can also benefit
Vietnam. In January 2013, Bosh Vietnam and the Lilama 2 Technical and
Technological College concluded a cooperation agreement. In March, a
Memorandum of Understanding on vocational training was signed between
the two governments. This MoU aimed at improving the skills of the
Vietnamese labour force in the context of international integration.
* On the occasion of the 38th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Germany, what
messages would you like to convey to our readers?
The establishment of our strategic partnership in 2011 has opened a new
chapter for our bilateral ties in all fields, especially trade,
investment and development cooperation. As you have witnessed in the
past two years, many substantial and impressive achievements were
reached. This is proof for the steady growth of ties between our two
nations. Vietnam wants to become an industrialised country by 2020 and
Germany, with its knowledge and expertise, always supports Vietnam in
the implementation process.
The Embassy of the
Federal Republic of Germany in Vietnam will work closely together with
Vietnamese partners to efficiently implement what the two sides
committed to in the ” Declaration of Hanoi ” in order to benefit
both our countries.-VNA