Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Hanoi on October 31 for AB InBev CEO Carlos Brito, during which he said Vietnam wants Belgian businesses to invest more in the Southeast Asian country.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) received AB InBev CEO Carlos Brito in Hanoi on October 31

PM Phuc said the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Belgium are developing in a positive, diverse and practical manner, adding that companies of Vietnam and the European Union (EU), including Belgium, have very close relations.

The Vietnamese Government is making efforts to speed up economic restructuring, create a more transparent and favourable business climate and accelerate the equitisation of State-owned enterprises, he said.

Vietnam welcomes Belgian firms, including AB InBev, to expand investment, especially in the fields which are priorities and advantages of both nations, the government leader said.

PM Phuc expressed his hope that AB InBev will prioritise using local materials and manpower, and it will reap many successes in Vietnam.

He told Brito that Vietnam attaches importance to its relations with the EU as well as the role of foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises.

For his part, Brito highly evaluated the Vietnamese market’s advantages such as high attractiveness, rapid growth, big population and fast increase in the number of middle-income people.

With experiences in brand development, AB InBev will help Vietnam bring out its brand names to the world, he said, adding that the group also wants to do long-term and sustainable business in the country.-VNA