Seminar pushes Finland-Vietnam trade links

Investment opportunities and tools to boost trade links between Vietnam and Finland were discussed at a seminar in Hanoi on March 25 to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

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To mark a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Vietnam – Finland diplomatic ties, a seminar on investment opportunities and trade-connection support tools was held in Hanoi on March 25.

Vice President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Doan Duy Khuong said that two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Finland increased more than 40 percent from US$210 million in 2011 to US$300 million in 2012.

Vietnam’s key exports to Finland include coffee, rubber, footwear, garments and textiles, fine arts, wood products, plastics, bicycles and spare parts, while it imports machinery, equipment, mass media products, garments and textiles, plastics, chemical products, electric equipment, components, iron and steel from Finland.

Khuong said by the end of 2012, Finland had eight projects in Vietnam capitalized at more than US$336 million, ranking 26th among the 98 nations and territories currently investing in Vietnam. The Finnish projects are focused on garments, textile, and wood products, as well as fishery.

Finnish ambassador to Vietnam, Kimmo Lahdevirta, acknowledged both nations’ efforts to boost investment and import and export activities. He said that his country has developed environmentally friendly technologies to cope with climate change that could be beneficial for Vietnam. He also said there are bright prospects for cooperation between Finland and Vietnam in the forestry sector.

Finland is focused on investing in the field of energy, particularly the development of renewable energy sources.

Finland has also expressed interest in cooperating with Vietnam in other fields such as infrastructure, construction, mining, environmental technology, and raw materials.

The seminar offered Vietnamese businesses an opportunity to access the Finnish market as well as other nations in Northern Europe.

Source: The Voice of Vietnam

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