VN, Myanmar to open first direct air route

VGP – Leaders of Vietnam Airlines, the national flag carrier, have discussed with representatives of the Myanmar Ministry of Transport about the opening of the first direct air route between the two countries to boost the bilateral economic and trade ties.

December 16, 2009 3:04 PM GMT+7

A Vietnam Airlines plane

According to the Myanmar Tourism and Travel Association, the Yangon-Hà Nội direct air route will lure more international arrivals to Myanmar.

At present, Myanmar has already been linked directly to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and China. Most of foreign visitors come to Myanmar via Bangkok.

In November, a Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Nguyễn Thành Biên worked with the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) to talk of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

In the first 9 months of this year, Việt Nam and Myanmar saw the two-way trade turnover of US $60 million.

Since late 1988 when Myanmar opened its markets to foreign investors, Việt Nam has invested US $23.4 million in Myanmar. Some Vietnamese enterprises currently want to invest in hotels and fisheries there.

By Ngọc Vân