Dutch businesses eye Vietnamese market

The Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion (NCH) on February 25 organised a meeting between Dutch businesses and representatives of the Vietnamese embassy, entrepreneurs on the occasion of the Lunar New Year Festival.

Participants discussed Vietnam’s new trade and investment policies and the possibility of cooperation.

Addressing the ceremony, Van Gulick, Chairman of the Netherlands-Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce, emphasised that Vietnam is an emerging economy and is receiving a lot of attention from European businesses, including the Dutch. This is shown in an increase in the number of members of this Chamber, which has doubled in the past three years.

The head of STC Erik Hietbrink Group said its operation in Vietnam has developed and helped train hundreds of skilled technicians and shipbuilders since 1993, which has contributed to increasing the quality of Vietnam’s young labour force.

At the meeting, Vietnamese ambassador to the Netherlands, Ha Huy Thong, said Vietnam’s economy has now overcome the most difficult period and is opening many opportunities for Dutch businesses, especially in 2010.

The ambassador confirmed Vietnam is ready to exchange with the Dutch and has measures to promote bilateral relations for long-term benefits.

The event drew the participation of the Agency for International Business and Cooperation (a branch of the Netherlands’ Ministry of Economic Affairs), and leaders of Dutch groups in many fields such as ABN Amro and ING (banking and finance), Damen, HME, Smit International, Lion Shipping and STC (shipbuilding and seaport services), ECC, Lovells and PEJA (well-known corporations), as well as Rotterdam and Groningan universities.

Tags: invest in Vietnam, investment in vietnam, vietnam foreign investment, Vietnam investment, vietnam investments