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State to back Finnish firms' investments
The Government will support Finnish firms interested in investing in industrial projects in Viet Nam, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Le Danh Vinh told the Viet Nam-Finland Aid for Trade Forum held yesterday in the capital.
Finnish investment would continue to help Viet Nam develop into a full market economy, Vinh said, urging stronger co-operation between the two countries' enterprises.
Finnish Ambassador to Viet Nam Pekka Hyvonen said that his country's support to Viet Nam was part of Finland's commitments as an EU member state.
The Finnish government would continue to provide practical assistance in terms of trade promotion, creating favourable conditions for the country to access European markets, increasing sustainable forestry development and building information systems in Viet Nam, Hyvonen said.
Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice chairman Hoang Van Dung agreed that Finland was an effective gateway for Vietnamese goods to further penetrate European markets.
Yesterday's forum drew the participation of 150 businesses from both countries. Participants heard a presentation by programme co-ordinator Helena Kekki on new business opportunities for Vietnamese small- and medium-d enterprises by increasing relationship with Finnish partners.
The programme, named Finnpartnership, aimed to promote long-term business co-operation between companies in Finland and developing countries, including financial support and advisory services.
To date, 31 projects in Viet Nam have received support from the programme worth nearly US$4.6 million.
Bilateral trade between Finland and Viet Nam has developed significantly in recent years with an annual growth rate of 20-40 per cent and a trade value in 2009 of around $230 million. Leading Viet Nam exports to the Finnish market included rubber, footwear, clothing, handicrafts and wood products.
In terms of investment, Finland ranks 51st out of 89 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam, with five projects worth a total of $33.4 million.
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