The European Union (EU) wants to become the largest investor in Vietnam, especially in Ho Chi Minh City and neighbouring localities, said Ambassador Bruno Angelet, head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam during a meeting in the southern city on March 15 with Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong.
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Ambassador Bruno Angelet (L) and Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee
Nguyen Thanh Phong (Source: VNA) |
According to the ambassador, the EU is currently one of the top three trade partners of Vietnam and the fifth largest investor in the country.
He said he is impressed by the city’s continuous progresses to be recently named as one of the top 10 dynamic cities in the world, and wished that the city would continue refining policies for foreign investors and paying attention to intellectual property protection and food safety and hygiene.
The EU is ready to assist Ho Chi Minh City in developing renewable and green energy, including the construction of green buildings and the effective use of energy, he stated.
Chairman Phong, for his part, spoke highly of the EU’s support to the city in the construction of metro line No.2, Soai Rap river dredging, agricultural and climate change response projects over the past years.
He expressed his thanks for the guest’s suggestions to improve the local business climate, adding that he backs the building of a regular dialogue mechanism with the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EUROCHAM) to acquire their feedback and promptly clear obstacles facing EU investors.
At the reception, the two sides also discussed the progress of the metro line No.2 construction and sustainable development of urban infrastructure in the city funded by the EU via the French Development Agency and the German Development Bank KfW.
They agreed to direct concerned agencies to accelerate the above projects, making it easier for the EU to increase partnership programmes in the city in the near future./.