Vietnam, UK to closen economic ties

A high-ranking UK official has pledged to share his experience in capital mobilisation and infrastructure development with Vietnam.

The ambassador for UK-based financial and professional services Alderman Michael Bear, who is also the Mayor of the City of London, will be in Vietnam from March 19-24.

During the visit, he will meet the Vietnamese Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, State Bank Governor and members of the business community.

In Hanoi, he will co-chair a round table discussion with Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, Dang Huy Dong, on private public partnerships (PPP).

On the afternoon of March 21, the Mayor of London will deliver a speech at the Foreign Trade University highlighting the abundant opportunities for Vietnamese companies, especially state owned enterprises (SOEs), to enter the international capital markets via the London Stock Exchange.

His schedule in Ho Chi Minh City will be a mixture of official calls, round table and seminar discussions as well as company visits and an evening reception.

The Mayor will visit the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange and the newly established Commodity Exchange on March 24. At an Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) event, the Bear will speak about the City of London’s experience in dealing with the economic downturn.

Lord Bear will be accompanied by a delegation from London’s business community. The visit to Vietnam is part of his East Asian trip, lasting from March 12-24, which includes Malaysia and Taiwan, as well as Vietnam.

Mayor Bear said, “Vietnam has a strong need for new infrastructure. Following the signing of the Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the UK in 2010, there are huge opportunities for both countries to increase bilateral trade and investment.”

Tags: Vietnam UK cooperation