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VN, Wallonie-Brussels trade to hit $1.4b
Total yearly bilateral trade turnover between Viet Nam and the French community from Wallonie and the Committee of the French community in Brussels (Wallonie-Brussels) is expected to reach 1 billion euros (US$1.4 billion) in the near future.
Vice President and Minister for the Economy, Small and Medium sized Enterprises, Foreign Trade and New Technologies of the Wallonie region Jean-Claude Marcourt said yesterday that most of the region's enterprises which were operating in Viet Nam had expressed their pleasure and hoped to further enhance co-operation in the coming time.
Marcourt said Viet Nam had a lot of potential to develop and that 10 to 20 of the region's businesses had already been actively co-operating with the country.
He said exports to Viet Nam last year saw an increase of 26 per cent, adding that the region had encouraged its businesses to invest in ASEAN countries which had a large population and huge potential.
If a free trade agreement were to be signed between Viet Nam and the EU, their turnover would be increased, he said.
Marcourt added that 31 projects in sectors such as university education, sustainable development, institutional improvement among others had been carried out for the sustainable economic development and trade between Viet Nam and Belgium in general and between Viet Nam and Wallonie in particular.
During his two-day visit to Viet Nam, Marcourt also visited several universities with co-operation projects with Wallonie-Brussels, such as a biotechnology project at the Ha Noi National University and an environmental science project at the HCM City Industrial University. He is also scheduled to visit the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology in Ha Noi to discuss a small-sized satellite project.
Marcourt's visit was one stage of a long visit to several ASEAN countries including Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Viet Nam. His time in Viet Nam aimed to strengthen co-operation not only in trade and economy but also education and training, science and culture.
On the same day, the Central Highland province of Lam Dong and Belgium's East Flanders Province signed a memorandum of understanding to develop Viet Nam's fruit, vegetable and bonsai sector.
Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Huynh Duc Hoa said the programme would pave the way for a breakthrough in sustainable fruit and vegetable production in the province.
Under the agreement, the two sides would implement research, training and transfer agricultural technology over the next five years.
A centre for fruit, vegetable and bonsai research would also be established in the province.
Marc De Buck, Deputy Governor of East Flanders Province said the co-operation in research, training, production and trade would benefit both sides.
West Flanders produces a large amount of fruit and vegetables in Belgium. The province has economic ties with many localities in Viet Nam.
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