Ireland, HCMC promote multifaceted cooperation

Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem (R) welcomes Minister of State for Public Procurement, Open Government and eGovernment of Ireland Patrick O’Donovan

At the reception, Patrick O’Donovan said his country is attentive and attaches importance to the cooperation with Viet Nam, as well as takes the country as a gateway and a bridge for trade with other countries in Southeast Asia.

Expressing his impression on the vigorous and dynamic development of the city, he said that Ireland will open its trade office in Viet Nam’s southern hub to strengthen its support to Irish enterprises investing in Ho Chi Minh City. Ireland will continue cooperating, supporting and sharing its experiences with the city in the time to come, hestressed.
In turn,  Liem said Ho Chi Minh City and Ireland have large rooms for cooperation, especially in the fields of the city’s demand and the country’s strength like health care and education.

He stressed that the relations between the two countries are developing well, manifested through the exchanges of delegations.

Mr. Liem also expressed his belief that when the EU – Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement comes into force in the near future, it will contribute further to the development of the relations between the city and Ireland, particularly in the fields of trade and investment which still remain modest compared to the two sides’ potential.

Irish enterprises and groups should push up trade promotion, search for investment and business chances in the city in health care and education, he said, adding the city hopes to cooperate with and receive experiences from Ireland in building an e-administration and realizing the project on building a smart urban area.

By Vien Nhu