HCMC CITY – Eleven cooperation documents between Vietnamese and Dutch companies were signed at the Holland Trade Reception held in HCM City on April 11.

The documents included Memoranda of Understanding (MoU), contracts, long-term distribution agreements and letters of intent, focusing on energy, environment, agriculture, and sports.

They included an MoU on capacity building in applied water research between Saxion University of Applied Science and the National Economics University, and an MoU with the Dutch Consortium on Circular Economy Cooperation and Việt Nam.

Võ Văn Hoan, chief of the office of HCM City People's Committee, said: “These documents will lay a firm foundation for further strengthening our business-to-business ties and implementing projects on energy, environment, agriculture and water management, thus deepening our comprehensive partnership, which was just elevated during the visit to Việt Nam by the Prime Minister of the Netherlands on April 9.”

Also speaking at the event, Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, said: “It’s been inspiring to see our relationship gradually shift from development cooperation to trade, investment and responsible business. I’m proud that the Netherlands is one of Vietnam’s biggest trading partners and the biggest European investor in this amazing country, with more than 7 billion dollars’ worth of registered investment.”

“Fruitful contracts, memoranda of understanding and new ventures across many sectors and industries show how wide-ranging the ties are between our countries,” she added.

In 2018, two-way trade turnover between HCM City and the Netherlands reached US$1.5 billion. The Netherlands currently has 135 investment projects in the city with a total investment capital of $1.8 billion, ranking eighth among 105 countries and territories investing in the city. – VNS