At the trade and promotion seminar in Ho Chi Minh City on September 25. — Photo baochinhphu.vn

HCM CITY — A trade and promotion seminar was organised in HCM City on September 25 to bolster trade cooperation between Việt Nam and Ghana.

At the event, jointly held by HCM City’s Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) and Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, ITPC Deputy Director Đào Minh Chánh spotlighted the significant progress in the Việt Nam – Ghana partnership over the past time, particularly in trade, elaborating Ghana is now the largest trading partner of Việt Nam in the Western African region, with two-way trade reaching US$733 million in 2023.

The two countries will develop bilateral ties, especially in the economy, to a deep and substantive manner time towards the 60th celebration of the diplomatic relations in 2025, he added.

According to statistics from the General Department of Việt Nam Customs, two-way trade during January – August was estimated at $560.7 million, with Việt Nam’s export revenue worth $282.3 million. Việt Nam shipped rice, confectionery and garment and textile to Ghana and bought cashew and wood from the nation.

Chánh said HCM City exported $35.2 million worth of products to Ghana in the first half, up 22 per cent year-on-year. The ITPC wants to bolster connectivity between Vietnamese enterprises and those from Ghana and commits to promoting trade and investment activities as well as create favourable conditions for businesses of both sides to expand their markets.

Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in charge of Political and Economic matters Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong stressed that the two countries boast various cooperation opportunities in the areas of trade, investment, high-tech agriculture and energy.

Ghana has penned strategies to diversify its economy, including the facilitation of business conditions for investors, he said, stating the country is calling for investments in high-tech agriculture, infrastructure development, energy and tourism while Việt Nam has strengths in rice and fisheries farming.

The country wants to work with Vietnamese partners to take the cocoa business and its production to the next level, he added. — VNS