On the afternoon of October 27 (local time), as part of his official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with leaders from four of the UAE’s top corporations specializing in infrastructure, ports, logistics, industrial zones, transportation, and strategic consulting.

Recognizing Vietnam as a promising location in Southeast Asia, the UAE business leaders expressed their interest in investing in Vietnam, particularly in the logistics and port sectors, which they consider to have great potential for development.

Prime Minister Chinh highlighted Vietnam’s three strategic breakthroughs in institutions, infrastructure, and human resources, including major advancements in infrastructure like port systems, airports, high-speed rail, and highways.

The Prime Minister encouraged UAE corporations to explore and increase cooperation and investment in these areas. He noted that Vietnam’s 3,000 km coastline occupies a strategic position, making ports one of its key strengths. Vietnam is currently developing major ports in the northern, central, and southern regions, such as Lach Huyen, Lien Chieu, Can Gio, and Cai Mep - Thi Vai, aiming to position itself as a global transshipment hub.

Additionally, Prime Minister Chinh invited UAE businesses to invest in digital transformation, green transition, science and technology, innovation, the green economy, the circular economy, the knowledge economy, and cloud computing.

Encouraging UAE enterprises to collaborate and invest in Vietnam, the Prime Minister committed to implementing breakthrough policies to attract foreign investment as a new growth driver. Vietnam is also establishing an investment fund to support foreign investors and improve the investment environment for more favorable conditions.

"The spirit is clear: institutions must be open, infrastructure seamless, and governance smart," the Prime Minister emphasized.

Later that afternoon, Prime Minister Chinh met with M.A. Yusuff Ali, Chairman of Lulu Group, a global supermarket chain conglomerate.

Chairman M.A. Yusuff Ali praised Vietnam's impressive economic achievements, especially in exports, and proposed expanding Lulu's market presence in Vietnam. He also expressed interest in government and ministerial support.

Lulu Group has established a representative office in Ho Chi Minh City to source Vietnamese products for its supermarket network. The group plans to partner with the Vietnamese Embassy to organize events promoting Vietnamese agricultural products in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Chinh commended Lulu Group for acting as a bridge, introducing high-quality Vietnamese products to consumers in the Middle East and other countries through its extensive supermarket network.

According to the Prime Minister, the strong and trustworthy relationship between Vietnam and the UAE, along with rapid economic cooperation, provides a solid foundation for businesses from both nations to expand their partnerships.

Moreover, Vietnam offers a stable political climate, robust macroeconomic stability, well-controlled inflation, and a large potential consumer market, making it an attractive destination for quality goods.

Vietnam’s international integration is deep and comprehensive, with 19 free trade agreements (FTAs) signed with over 60 countries, 16 of which are in effect. During this UAE visit, Vietnam is set to announce a Comprehensive Partnership Agreement with the UAE, including next-generation FTAs like RCEP and CPTPP.

Given these advantages, the Prime Minister urged Lulu Group to further promote Vietnamese products with strong potential and consumer appeal across the UAE, the Middle East, and other markets within Lulu's global supermarket network.

The Prime Minister also encouraged Lulu Group to enable Vietnamese businesses to join the Halal supply chain, explore investment opportunities, and cooperate with capable Vietnamese partners to process agricultural products and establish a supermarket chain in Vietnam, catering to a market with over 100 million consumers.

Lastly, the Prime Minister asked Lulu Group to serve as a bridge, connecting potential investors from both within and outside the UAE to Vietnam, and to organize quarterly events promoting Vietnamese agricultural products and goods in the Middle East.

Thu Hang