Vietnam-Poland Enhancing Economic, Cultural and Sport Cooperation

A Vietnam-Poland business meeting was held recently in Hanoi by VCCI, Polish Embassy and Vietnam-EU Business Forum. The Polish business delegation consists of 15 important companies from real estate, construction, equipment, transport, garment, trade, tourism, film and recreation.

Mr Gerard Piatkowski, President of the Polish Chamber of Commerce, said that in addition to market survey and seeking business partners, the delegation wish to conclude with Vietnam three cooperation agreements. They are, first, an agreement on telephone roaming that helps businesses of the two countries communicate with each other without buying a new card; second, a letter from Polish Olympic President to Vietnamese counterpart proposing bilateral cooperation and inviting the latter to visit Poland; third, a letter from Polish Airlines Director to Vietnam Airlines Director on direct flights from Poland to Hanoi in 2010. “Those are documents of long-lasting friendship cooperation between the two countries”, Mr Piatkowski concluded.

According to Mr Piatkowski, it is the right time to establish Vietnam-Poland Chamber of Commerce as it will promote not only trade but also other relations between the two countries. He also believes that in 2010 on the 60^th anniversary of Vietnam-Poland diplomatic relations and 1000^th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi, the two countries can organize Poland Week in Vietnam. The week will set the foundation for big Polish projects and investments in Vietnam.

For his part, Mr Nguyen Ngoc Thang, Deputy Head of Department of International Relations, VCCI, said that, Vietnam always honours all-round cooperation with Poland. The two countries have supported each other in their time-honoured relations. Their relationship is all the more important in the context of ASEAN-EU cooperation.

The two countries maintained stable growth in economic and trade relations. Poland ranks first among Central European countries in partnership with Vietnam, providing preferential credits to develop ship-building, energy and restoring of relics in Vietnam. The two-way trade value in 2008 was US$633 million. Vietnam exports (worth US$507 million) mainly aquatic products, garment, footwear, agricultural produce, foodstuff; while imports from Poland equipment for coal industry, ship-building, pharmaceuticals and others (worth US$126 million).

Although there is stable growth, Mr Thang believes that bilateral trade fails to meet the demand and potential of the two countries. With their economic structure, the two countries can complement each other. Besides, Vietnam can serve as a bridge for Polish products entering ASEAN market. Poland can be a gateway for Vietnamese products to reach the EU. Some 30,000 Vietnamese living in Poland can promote bilateral economic and trade relations.

In 2008-2009, Poland was among few European countries with plus growth. It will help promote trade and investment in commemoration of the 60^th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2010. “It is my hope that the current visit will mark a step further in the all-round cooperation between the two countries”, Mr Thang concluded.

Posted by VBN on Dec 1 2009. Filed under Int'l Cooperation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry