Deputy PM promotes Dutch ties in port construction

Vietnamese-Netherlands relations will increase in a variety of fields, especially port construction, transportation and logistics in the near future, said Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai at the Conference on Port Co-operation in Ha Noi yesterday.

Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, and the Dutch ministers for Agriculture and Foreign Trade, as well as Minister of Transport of Viet Nam Ho Nghia Dung and enterprises from the countries attended.

Addressing the conference, Hai said that with an average annual growth of 25 per cent and great potential, Vietnamese seaports were calling for investors to improve infrastructure and develop logistics.

Participants discussed the advantages of the Dutch port system and opportunities to boost the economic, financial and investment co-operation between Netherlands and Vietnamese seaport businesses.

Coastal zone management, dike design and monitoring

The first Viet Nam–Netherlands Inter-governmental Committee meeting on climate change and water management was also held yesterday in Ha Noi, with the attendance of Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, who was appointed as the Chairman of the Vietnamese side of the committee on Monday.

The committee agreed the “HCM City heads to the sea, adjusting to climate change” programme and advocated a Memorandum of Understanding for bilateral co-operation between Rotterdam and HCM City, expected to be signed today.

Speaking at the conference, Minister for Agriculture and Foreign Trade of the Netherlands, Henk Bleker was optimistic on potential co-operation between the two countries.

“Possibilities for economic co-operation are widely available as we have a lot in common. I am confident that the Dutch business delegation and their Vietnamese partners will take advantage of the opportunity,” said Henk.

Also at the conference, the VND 50 trillion ($US2.5 billion) Vung Tau-Go Cong Sea Dyke project was presented.

The Dutch Embassy agreed to spend 110,000 euros on providing Dutch experts to collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to research and develop the project.

The committee also discussed opportunities to expand co-operation in the development of the Red River Delta and Vietnamese coast at the second meeting, supposed to be held in 2012.

The delegation will also visit HCM City, and meet enterprises who have made a social contribution to Viet Nam. — VNS

Tags: Vietnam ports