Deputy PM greets newly appointed Norwegian ambassador
VGP – Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung hosted a reception for newly appointed Norwegian Ambassador to Viet Nam, Grete Lochen, in Ha Noi on February 26, during which he affirmed Viet Nam always encourages Norwegian businesses to invest in the country.
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Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung receives newly appointed Norwegian Ambassador to Viet Nam, Grete Lochen, Ha Noi, February 26, 2019. Photo: VGP |
Congratulating Grete Lochen on her appointment, the deputy PM voiced his belief that with her experience and capabilities, the diplomat will contribute significantly to further accelerating bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Dung expressed his pleasure at the fine development of Viet Nam-Norway ties over the past few years, hailing economic-trade-investment cooperation as one of the major pillars in bilateral relations.
The two countries reported US$363 million in two-way trade last year, with Viet Nam exporting mainly garment and textile, footwear, wood and wood products, and cashew nuts to Norway, and importing fisheries products, machinery, equipment, and fertilizer of different types from the European nation. Currently, Norway is operating 41 valid projects in Viet Nam with a total registered capital of US$166 million.
However, according to the deputy PM, the bilateral trade revenues still remain modest, yet to match with the potential and expectations of both countries.
He asked Ambassador Grete Lochen, in her new position, to take specific actions to facilitate Viet Nam-Norway ties in the fields of economy, trade and investment, as well as to encourage Norwegian firms to cooperate with Vietnamese partners and invest in the fields of Viet Nam’s demand and Norway’s strength, such as shipbuilding, aquaculture, renewable energy and tourism.
Deputy PM Dung also urged the two sides to accelerate the negotiations of the free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in the spirit of balancing the interests of each party, taking into account differences in development level.
For her part, Grete Lochen expressed her honor to assume the position of Norwegian Ambassador to Viet Nam, affirming her utmost efforts to develop relations between the two countries.
She stated that Norwegian firms are very interested in investment projects in the areas of renewable energy, and oil and gas exploitation and processing in Viet Nam.
By Vien Nhu
