Italian firms urged to invest in Viet Nam

Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Dang Khanh Thoai called on Italian businesses to make further investments in Viet Nam during a business conference held in Milan on Thursday.

The ambassador noted that Viet Nam had always been a reliable partner for Italy, referring to the country’s economic status, investment climate, and as yet untapped business opportunities. He outlined several key areas for expansion and co-operation between the two business communities, including agriculture, engineering and infrastructure, while also acknowledging tourism and technology as promising sectors.

“Though Viet Nam is a young country, it still has great potential for economic development and has proven to be attractive for foreign enterprises, especially Italian comanies,” said Chiara Fanali, who heads the international business department of ASSOLOMBARDA, the largest territorial association of the entrepreneurial system in Italy.

She observed that the operational model of small- and medium-sized Vietnamese enterprises was consistent with that of Italian companies. That compatibility was a primary reason the firms were eager to seek further investment and business opportunities in Viet Nam, she said.

In anticipation of the conference, the delegation of Vietnamese firms visited a number of factories belonging to their Italian counterparts. Viet Nam Association of Consumer Goods Development General Secretary Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy said that the exchange helped Vietnamese enterprises better understand the strengths of the Italian firms. She described the conference as a good change for businesses to enhance their mutual appreciation and to seek new opportunities for co-ordination.

Fanali said she hoped that the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy and its trade office would continue to be an effective bridge between the two countries, facilitating accelerated co-operation on business ventures in the future. — VNS

Tags: invest in Vietnam, Vietnam FDI, Vietnam FDI 2011, Vietnam investment