The Vietnamese Government pledges to maintain the stable macro environment, continue improving the institutional quality and State government, and boosting the rule of law, for foreign businesses, especially those from Australia, to land investment and expand operation in Vietnam, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

In a meeting with Australia’s leading enterprises in finance, banking, agriculture and construction sectors in Sydney on March 17 during his official visit to Australia, PM Phuc hoped that more Australian investors will be interested in Vietnamese seafood import as Vietnam holds huge potential in this sector.

Representatives from the Australian groups lauded Vietnam’s efforts in improving the business climate and investment promotion as well as promoting connections between enterprises from the two countries to bolster bilateral collaboration.

Christina Tonkin, Managing Director, Loans and Specialised Finance for Institutional Banking for ANZ Investment Bank, felt upbeat about the Vietnamese market thanks to the country’s political stability, growing population, large volume of foreign direct investment and an increase in bourgeois people.

Meanwhile, Mark Forber, CEO at the Akvotek seafood export group, noticed that as 80 percent of the seafood amount in Australia is imported, there are rooms for Vietnam and Australia to cooperate in the sector.

The same day, PM Phuc hosted a reception for Rohan Garnett, Executive Manager at Qantas Airways - the national flag carrier of Australia, in which he congratulated Qantas Airway on its success in regional and international markets, including Vietnam.

He underlined that the establishment of the strategic partnership will serve as a boon to enhance cooperation between the two countries. To that end, he asked Qantas Airways to further collaboration with Vietnamese airlines in improving flight safety and reducing costs.

The Government always supports foreign firms like Qantas Airways so that they can join hands with those from Vietnam for mutual growth.

Garnett spoke highly of Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements, stressing that Vietnam has been an attractive destination to many foreign tourists and investors and the number of passengers using Qantas services to go to Vietnam has risen for years.

He wished to receive further support from the Vietnamese Government so that the airlines can reap further achievements in the Southeast Asian nation.

During his stay in Australia, PM Phuc had a meeting with former US Ambassador to Vietnam Pete Peterson, who had made significant contributions to the cooperative ties between Vietnam and the US.

Vietnamese, Lao PMs meet on ASEAN-Australia Special Summit sidelines

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith on the sidelines of the ASEAN - Australia Special Summit in Sydney, Australia on March 17 morning.

The Vietnamese PM said in early February, both sides successfully held the 40th meeting of the Vietnam - Lao Inter-Governmental Committee,during which they agreed to direct the two countries' ministries, agencies and localities to successfully embark on the Vietnam - Laos Cooperation Plan 2018, focusing on port, transport connectivity trade, energy, electricity purchase for the effective and practical development of traditional friendship, specia solidarity and comprehensive partnership between the two nations.

PM Phuc suggested Laos speed up the simplification of procedures; reduce fees for work permit, visas and residence cards for Vietnamese workers in Laos; and provide continued support for Vietnamese nationals and the establishment of overseas Vietnamese associations in Laos.

Sisoulith, for his part, promised to direct Lao ministries,agencies and localities to work closely with Vietnamese partners to promptly launch the Vietnam - Laos Cooperation Plan 2018.

He said he will attend the sixth Greater Mekong Sub-region Summit and the 10th Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Vietnam Cooperation Summit to be held in Hanoi from March 29-31, as well as closely partner with Vietnam and GMS countries to build and effectively realise economic cooperation programmes in the region.

On March 16 afternoon (local time), Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh held a working session with Minister for Trade and Industry of New South Wales state Niall Blair. Both sides discussed in detail cooperation opportunities in air transport between Vietjet and airports in New Castle and Brisbane cities.

PM attends launch of VOV Australia in Sydney

The Voice of Vietnam (VOV) Australia, the 11 VOV representative office  overseas, was launched in Sydney on March 17 in the presence of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc who is on a tour to Australia.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, VOV General Director Nguyen The Ky said the the VOV sets up a representative office in Australia as the country plays a significant part in external relations of Vietnam and ASEAN as well as links within the Indo-Pacific region. In addition, more than 300,000 Vietnamese are living and studying in Australia, he added.

Australia has developed a strong relations and cooperation with Vietnam over the past four decades and is now an important partner in Vietnam’s foreign policy and comprehensive international integration strategy, Ky said, noting that VOV’s representative office in Australia will be a news channel to popularise updates on Vietnam’s ties with Australia and New Zealand and the Vietnamese communities in these two countries.

PM Phuc has been busy in an official visit to Australia and attending the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit whick takes place from March 16-18. It is also an important occasion as Vietnam and Australia are celebrating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year (February 26, 1973) and announced the establishment of the Strategic Partnership.

The VOV is one of Vietnam's largest state-run media agencies, producing news in all forms of media with eight radio channels, 17 television channels, one printed and two online newspapers. Its radio programmes are broadcast in 12 ethnic minority and 12 foreign languages besides Vietnamese.

PM meets with Vietnamese businessmen, intellectuals in Australia

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets with the Vietnamese Business Association in Australia (VBAA).

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed his delights over the increasing role of the Vietnamese Business Association in Australia (VBAA) in the host nation as well as its significant contributions to promoting bilateral economic ties.

He made the statement during a meeting with the Vietnamese entrepreneurs on March 17 in Sydney, Australia, which formed part of his visit to the country and his participation in the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit.

The Vietnamese Government, ministries and localities always create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese expats, he said, hoping that they will educate the younger generations there to turn their hearts to the homeland.

He said that the Australian leaders all committed to facilitating conditions for the Vietnamese people there to have a stable life and business.

VBAA President Tran Ba Phuc, for his part, said that the Vietnamese businesses have proactively popularised Vietnamese agricultural products in Australia.

He showed his delights over the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Australia as it means the Vietnamese community will grasp more interest and support from the Australian Government.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese people in Australia will continue efforts to develop the homeland.

The same day, PM Phuc met with representatives from the club of Vietnamese scientists living in Australia’s Queensland state, in which he noted that the club establishment has crucial roles in bolstering cooperation between the two countries.

He wished that the intellectuals will bring home the latest knowledge and technology to contribute to the national construction.

Vietnam welcomes Australian businesses: PM

 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that Vietnam always welcomes and gives optimal conditions for Australian enterprises to seek investment opportunities in the country during his meeting with leaders of a number of Australian firms on March 16.

The meeting drew many leading local companies in agriculture, rice production, health care, tourism, water treatment, and infrastructure building, including ICON, HunterNet, Sunrice, Veolia and Webjet.

PM Phuc lauded the cooperation between these companies and their Vietnamese peers, proposing they continue expanding coordination and help transfer technology, equipment, human resources management and training to Vietnamese firms, while giving suitable material and technology prices to enhance capacity for Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Government leader, who is on his official visit to Australia from March 14-18, said that Vietnam is speeding up the equitisation of many large firms as well as   those operating in important areas of the economy such as power production and retail, mining, finance-banking and telecommunications services.

Vietnam encourages Australian businesses to engage in this process together with domestic and foreign enterprises, he stated.

He said he will direct ministries, sectors and localities to continue working with the companies to seek suitable cooperation opportunities and promptly support them in finding location for their facilities and material areas as well as in human resources supply.

He suggested that the Australian firms discuss with Vietnamese relevant agencies on details of their planned projects in Vietnam.

The PM expressed his hope that with their experience and technology, Australian firms will continue giving consultations and sharing experience with Vietnamese businesses in project management, while giving solutions and advanced tools to reduce investment costs and make projects become more friendly to the environment.

Noting Vietnam’s great potential in agriculture and food, he asked Australian firms to step up collaboration with Vietnamese peers in the fields.

Representatives from Australian firms spoke highly of Vietnam’s economic growth and its improved investment environment and institutional reform.

They said they are keen on expanding investment in Vietnam in information technology, telecommunications, renewable energy (solar, wind and bio energy), fund management, agriculture and tourism.

They also asked for support of the Vietnamese PM and Government in developing projects in Vietnam.