Vietnam-Finland Aid for Trade Forum to be held in Hanoi

A Vietnam-Finland Aid for Trade Forum will be held in Hanoi on March 17, 2010 with the aim of improving knowledge of the global Aid for Trade (AfT) agenda and awareness of the different AfT-related programmes between Vietnam and Finland.

This was announced by Finnish Ambassador to Vietnam Pekka Hyvonen at the press briefing in Hanoi today.

150 Finnish and Vietnamese enterprises have so far confirmed its participation in this forum, he said.

According to the ambassador, there will be four workshops in the framework of this forum with the themes of ‘Trade Promotion – Facilitating Exports from Vietnam to Europe and Finland’, ‘Promoting Socially and Environmentally Sustainable Forestry’ and ‘Support in Building Information Society and Innovation System in Vietnam’ and ‘Supporting Partnership in Renewable Energies and Clean Technologies’.

This forum is also a good chance for the Finnish and Vietnamese enterprises to seek their partners as well as business and investment opportunities, he added.

The forum will be held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, the Vietnamese Ministry for Industry and Trade (MOIT) and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

According to Finland’s Aid for Trade Action Plan (2008 – 2011), the AfT is a set of tools of official development assistance that is directed towards strengthening the ability of developing countries to export goods and services. This aid includes issues like strengthening a country’s trade policy making, trade negotiation capacity and border management.

Also wider issues like infrastructure and the productive capacity of industry are part of AfT measures.

In Vietnam, Finland’s activities is focused on strengthening the export capacity of the Vietnamese industry.

In a larger context the Finnish support to Vietnam is part of fulfilling Finland’s commitment, as an EU member state, to increase the amount of AfT provided globally. The EU has pledged to increase its global annual AfT to EUR 2 billion by 2010, of which EUR 1 billion will be provided through the European Commission and the remaining EUR 1 billion directly by its member state

Tags: VVietnam-Finland Aid for Trade Forum