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Pennsylvania businesses to explore Vietnam
Nine companies and one university from the US state of Pennsylvania’s Pittsburgh Regional Alliance will visit Vietnam next week to explore opportunities for cooperation.
The week-long trip, which will begin Saturday, comes as part of the PRA’s "Engage Vietnam 2009" initiative, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s website.
It has planned stops in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, which last year established a sister city relationship with Pittsburgh.
"This is very much based on building opportunities that we see in Asia," the Review quoted Roger Cranville, senior vice president of PRA’s global marketing, as saying.
Despite the global economic recession, "Vietnam is still looking at growth of its gross domestic product of 5 to 6 percent for 2009," Cranville said.
Vietnam is moving toward increased urbanization and industrialization, and has plans for a major expansion of its Hanoi capital in 2010, he said.
"It's better to get in early than wait until it becomes a more mature market," he said.
"We are very much interested in Vietnam," said Jonathan H. Maurer, vice president of strategic planning and business development for Koppers Inc.
Pennsylvania companies exported US$118 million in goods to Vietnam in 2008, a 258.6 percent year-on-year increase, according to state figures.
Vinh Bao
Thanh Nien
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