Czech Ambassador Hynek Kmonicek. Photo courtesy of the Embassy of The Czech Republic in Hà Nội

Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Việt Nam, Hynek Kmonicek, talks to Việt Nam News prior to the visit of the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala, to Việt Nam from April 20-22.

What will be the main focus of Prime Minister Petr Fiala's visit to Việt Nam and how do you think it will contribute to strengthening the relationship between the Czech Republic and Việt Nam?

The main focus of Prime Minister Petr Fiala's visit to Việt Nam is to strengthen the relationship between the Czech Republic and Việt Nam. This visit will contribute to enhancing trade, investment, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

The relationship between the Czech and Vietnamese people has been exceptional since it began over seven decades ago. Could you please share your assessment of the results of the bilateral relationship in recent years?

The Czech Republic has been gradually gaining more importance in the Vietnamese market over the years. Việt Nam is now one of the most promising markets for Czech businesses in Southeast Asia due to its large population, rapid economic growth, and favourable investment environment. The Vietnamese government has implemented various policies to improve the investment climate and attract foreign investment.

The most promising sectors for Czech businesses in Việt Nam are manufacturing, tourism, and technology. Việt Nam has a large and young workforce, which is a key advantage for the manufacturing sector. Additionally, the country is becoming increasingly popular as a tourist destination, and Czech businesses could tap into this growing market. In terms of technology, Việt Nam has a highly skilled workforce in the field of information technology, and there is great potential for Czech businesses to collaborate with Vietnamese partners in this sector.

What are your views on Việt Nam's investment environment for Czech businesses? What can Việt Nam do or adjust to attract more investment from the Czech Republic? What areas do you think hold the most potential for Czech businesses in Việt Nam?

Việt Nam has made significant progress in improving its investment environment in recent years, although there is still room for improvement. To attract more investment from the Czech Republic, Việt Nam could consider adjusting its legal and regulatory frameworks to make them more transparent and predictable.

In addition, Việt Nam could work to improve its infrastructure and logistics to make it easier for Czech businesses to operate in the country. Sectors with the most potential for Czech businesses in Việt Nam include manufacturing, tourism, and technology.

For example, Việt Nam's manufacturing sector benefits from a large and young workforce, while its tourism industry has been growing rapidly in recent years. In the technology sector, Việt Nam has a highly skilled workforce and a competitive IT industry, making it an attractive destination for Czech businesses looking to collaborate in this field.

By addressing these issues, Việt Nam can continue to attract more investment from the Czech Republic and deepen their economic ties.

The cooperation in education between Việt Nam and the Czech Republic dates back to 1956 when around 100 Vietnamese schoolchildren were sent to Chrastava in the Liberec region. How has cooperation in this field developed in recent years, and what potential do you see for further collaboration in education between our two countries in the future?

Cooperation in education between Việt Nam and the Czech Republic has continued to flourish in recent years. The two countries have deepened their ties through various academic exchanges, research partnerships, and joint degree programmes. Vietnamese students are increasingly choosing the Czech Republic as a destination for higher education, and the number of Czech students studying in Việt Nam is also on the rise.

During the Prime Minister’s visit, the Czech Republic and Việt Nam will sign a Letter of Intent on educational cooperation, which aims in the future to further strengthen collaboration between the two countries in this field.

Furthermore, there is potential for increased cooperation in vocational education and training. The Czech Republic has a strong vocational education system, and Viet Nam could benefit from learning from the Czech experience in this field.

Since becoming the Ambassador to Việt Nam in 2022, what has impressed you the most about the country?

Since becoming the Ambassador to Việt Nam in 2022, I have been impressed by the country's natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture. The people of Việt Nam are friendly and welcoming, and the country has made significant progress in economic development. VNS