VN-Czech Business Forum held in Prague

President of the Czech Confederation of Industry and Transport revealed that the Confederation has worked with the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) to send different Czech business delegations to Viet Nam. 

Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Marta Novakova highlighted the cooperation potential between the two sides in education-training, underlining the role of Vietnamese alumni who studied in the Czech Republic as bridges between the two peoples.

She hailed the position and prestige of Viet Nam in the region and the world, stating that the Czech Republic supports the EU’s signing of the free trade agreement with Viet Nam (EVFTA) and the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

At the event, Czech PM Andrej Babis highlighted the contributions by the Vietnamese community to socio-economic development in the European country and the growth of bilateral partnership. 

He expressed his delight at the expanding bilateral relationship, adding that he hopes the EVFTA will be signed before the upcoming European Council election, thus opening up more chances for EU and Czech Republic enterprises to soon increase trade and investment partnerships with Viet Nam.

The Czech PM proposed that business communities of both sides strengthen import-export activities between the two countries, affirming that the two governments will create optimal conditions for the launching of a direct air route linking Ha Noi and Prague in 2019.

He said that leaders of the two countries discussed the simplification of procedures for granting visas for citizens of both sides to visit each other’s countries.

He stressed that Viet Nam is a huge and promising market for Czech firms to invest in and operate production activities.

In reply, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc said he hopes that after the forum, businesses of both sides will continue maintaining their connectivity and meetings to seek partnership opportunities.

He added that Vietnamese and Czech firms should further promote partnership in broader areas.

Noting that Viet Nam and the Czech Republic’s economies are more supplementary than competitive, the Vietnamese Government leader held that the bilateral partnership will grow with greater efficiency in the future.

He said that Viet Nam has political and social stability, strong tropical agriculture, and a rapidly growing processing-manufacturing sector with wide export markets, adding that the local business environment has been much improved, drawing nearly 28,000 FDI projects with a total capital of over US$ 345 billion./.  

By Kim Loan