Austria, Vietnam strengthen trade ties
(VOVworld) - Visiting Austrian President Heinz Fischer on Wednesday attended a second business forum in Ho Chi Minh City. 150 businesses from both countries were present at the event aimed at boosting bilateral trade ties. President Fischer expressed his belief that the forum will provide opportunities for both sides to seek new ways of cooperation and investment opportunties. He said there 's enormous economic potential between Vietnam and Austria and urged the business communities to expand their cooperation.
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan said that Vietnam creates favourable conditions for Austrian investors and that he hopes for their success in the Vietnamese market. The Deputy PM reiterated that Vietnam is accelerating reforms to integrate further in the world economy. He added Vietnam prioritises investment projects in hi-tech, supportive industry, green technology, education, culture and health care.
Another business forum opened on Tuesday in Hanoi to boost trade relations between Vietnam and Austria on the occasion of Austrian President Heinz Fischer’s Vietnam visit. Speaking at the forum, Walter Koren, the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber General Director, said Austrian companies are keen to invest in Vietnam and the 50 Austrian companies attending the forum hoped to gain some insight into Vietnam’s market potential and learn the advantages of maintaining a presence in the country. He encouraged Vietnamese companies to co-operate more actively with Austrian counterparts to realize untapped potential. In recent years, bilateral trade between Vietnam and Austria has shown promising signs. Two-way trade reached 630 million USD last year and 171 million USD in the first quarter of this year.