HÀ NỘI — Barcelona Port’s president Merce Conesa said she looked forward to connecting with Vietnamese businesses, especially in the field of logistics for mutual development, at a conference held on Monday in Hà Nội.

The event aimed to connect the business communities of Việt Nam and Barcelona and create co-operation opportunities.

According to the Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), interest from Spanish investors in Việt Nam is rising.

Spanish investors have extensive experience in renewable energy, infrastructure, tourism, high technology, construction and architecture.

Việt Nam is Spain’s main trading partner in ASEAN. Bilateral trade reached more than US$3 billion in 2017, and the two sides have set a target of $5 billion by 2020.

However, bilateral trade still fell short of the potential the two countries held, said vice chairman of the VCCI Hoàng Quang Phòng.

Phòng said he hoped the business communities would find opportunities, especially in areas that Việt Nam was encouraging investment in such as renewable energy, supporting industries and tourism.

Conesa added that Barcelona Port was now home to 500 enterprises, generating value of 3.53 billion euros ($3.97 billion), equivalent to 1.7 per cent of Spain’s gross domestic product.

Last year, 490 million euros worth of goods were imported from Việt Nam through Barcelona, while 117 million euros worth of goods exported from Barcelona to Việt Nam. Barcelona imported items such as coffee, frozen fish and building materials from Việt Nam, and shipped chemicals, food, biofuel and metals to Việt Nam.

Spanish investors would like to boost trade co-operation with Vietnamese firms, especially in the logistics field, Conesa said.

The event was organised by the VCCI in co-ordination with the Barcelona Port Authority. — VNS