Vietnam, UK promote cooperation in finance and investment

A delegation of businesses from the UK led by the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Michael Bear, will visit Vietnam from March 19-23 to seek investment opportunities and strengthen cooperation in finance and trade.

At a press conference on March 11, Mayor Michael Bear said that the delegation is scheduled to work with Vietnamese government officials and the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, Nguyen Van Giau. He will also attend a round-table conference in HCM City on developing urban areas at the HCM City Securities Trading Centre.

Mayor Bear said that he wanted to visit Vietnam because it signed an agreement with the UK to develop their relationship into a strategic partnership when Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem visited the UK late last year. This partnership has also opened up many opportunities for both nations to strengthen bilateral investment and trade.

Mayor Bear said London can provide solutions for developing the economy. Businesses in London have capital sources and are willing to provide technical expertise and management experience for Vietnamese partners.

In response to Vietnam News Agency reporters in the UK, Mayor Bear said the Vietnamese market is very important, adding that two-way trade turnover reached only GBP1.2 billion. He expressed wish for that figure to double or triple in the future.

He also emphasized that the UK has a lot of experience and financial products to offer Vietnam for developing its financial sector. “Vietnam has many major development programmes and we want to get involved”, he added.

During his visit to Asia, he will also pay a working visit to Malaysia and Taiwan. – VOV

Tags: Vietnam UK cooperation