Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong speaking at the event. (Photo: hcmcpv.org.vn) 

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong said that the visit by the ambassadors showed the EU member countries’ interest in the local business environment, as well as their confidence in the southern economic hub’s development potential, especially in the context of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) coming into force.

He believed that EVFTA would bring benefits and opportunities to promote bilateral cooperation and connectivity between the two sides.

On the one hand, with the gradual elimination of 99% of import tariff lines between Vietnam and the EU, EVFTA is expected to create favorable conditions and new opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises to increase their exports to the large and potential EU market.

Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong said that EU businesses will also benefit from the Vietnamese market of nearly 100 million people, especially EU products such as machinery, equipment, spare parts, goods, agricultural products and temperate foods.

He called on the ambassadors to work as a bridge to help HCM City businesses access the European market and diversify their products.

HCM City stands ready to support European firms to invest in the southern metropolis, especially in the areas of Europe’s strength and the city’s demand, the official pledged.

In the coming time, the city will carry out four development programs, including: Management innovation, Infrastructure development, Human resource development, and Business development with the focus on innovative start-ups and key products development.

Ambassador Giorgio Aliberti, head of the EU mission to Vietnam, lauded HCM City’s appeal, and shared Phong’s view that the EVFTA is a crucial foundation for trade and investment ties between the EU and Vietnam, as well as HCM City.

According to the ambassador, textiles-garments, fisheries and agricultural products play an important role in advancing the bilateral trade ties./.

BTA