Vietnamese lychee exports to the Netherlands. The EVFTA is expected to open up big opportunities for businesses of the two countries. — Photo tintucnongnghiep.com

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam is always a leading partner of the Netherlands in Asia, said the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Co-operation, Sigrid Kaag, at an online meeting with Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Tuấn Anh on Thursday.

The minister, who attended the meeting with the CEOs of 13 major Dutch companies, said the EVFTA is expected to open up big opportunities for businesses of the two countries and now is a suitable time for the two sides to deepen their co-operation.

She noted that the two countries have worked closely in various fields, particularly industry, clean energy, renewable energy, circular economy and emissions reduction towards sustainable development.

Minister Anh welcomed the Dutch government and businesses’ interest in collaboration with Việt Nam in trade, industry and energy.

He took the occasion to explain issues of interest of each participating Dutch business and clarify contents related to the enforcement of the EVFTA including taxation, intellectual property, trade in services and Government procurement. He also made clear what Việt Nam can do to help Dutch investors implement a strategy to turn Việt Nam into a production and consumption hub in ASEAN.  

The minister emphasised that Việt Nam has been, and is still a reliable destination for Dutch investors, urging the business communities of the two countries to work harder to seek new business and investment opportunities and optimise the benefits brought about by the EVFTA.

Speaking on behalf of the participating Dutch businesses, Ingrid Thijssen, chair of the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers, said Việt Nam is a strategic market in Asia for Dutch businesses, which are willing to invest more in the country.

Concluding the meeting, the two ministers said they will create favourable conditions for the two countries’ businesses to make full use of opportunities brought about by the EVFTA.

Statistics of the Ministry of Industry and Trade show the Netherlands is the biggest export market in the EU for Vietnamese goods, and also the biggest EU investor in Việt Nam.

Bilateral trade has been growing at an average of 11.78 per cent a year in the past five years. In 2020, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Việt Nam’s exports to the Netherlands in the January-November period still rose 0.22 per cent year on year to US$6.26 billion. Its imports from the European country in the period decreased by 4.13 per cent to $582.4 million.

As of the end of November 2020, total Dutch investment in Việt Nam reached $10.4 billion in 375 projects. — VNS