Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Chí Dũng (left) presents a commemorative gift to the Italian Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Hoa

ROME — Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Chí Dũng has called for intensified economic diplomacy to further strengthen Việt Nam-Italy trade and investment ties, urging Italy to support the swift ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) by the remaining EU member states.

During a meeting in Rome on Thursday with Italian Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso, Dũng commended Italy’s efforts in driving industrial development, business support, and innovation to enhance national competitiveness.

He underscored Việt Nam’s push to reform its growth model, accelerate institutional improvements, and prioritise science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as core engines of growth, aimed at sustaining rapid expansion and achieving long-term development goals.

Dũng encouraged Italian businesses to scale up investment in Việt Nam, particularly in high-potential sectors such as manufacturing, high technology, industrial infrastructure, innovation, and clean energy.

He also called for closer trade cooperation and more effective utilisation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), alongside deeper knowledge-sharing in manufacturing, supporting industries, and smart production, including the development of supplier support initiatives to help Vietnamese firms integrate further into Italian value chains.

Highlighting the importance of innovation, he urged stronger linkages among innovation centres, research institutes, universities, and startup ecosystems, as well as expanded collaboration in R&D, intellectual property, and technology transfer, initially focusing on Việt Nam’s strategic technology sectors.

Urso expressed strong backing for Việt Nam’s proposals to make Italy a gateway for Vietnamese exports to Europe and welcoming greater Vietnamese investment in Italy, noting the confidence of Italian firms in Việt Nam’s business environment.

Both sides agreed to accelerate plans to sign new cooperation agreements across a range of emerging sectors.

Earlier, Dũng met with Stefano Pontecorvo, Chairman of Leonardo, one of Europe’s leading aerospace and defence groups.

He welcomed the firm’s memorandum of understanding with Việt Nam’s National Innovation Centre as a foundation for future cooperation.

The Deputy PM called on Leonardo to deepen its footprint in Việt Nam through increased investment, participation in hi-tech industries, and the potential establishment of an R&D centre at the Hòa Lạc-based innovation hub.

He also encouraged the group to connect its global partners with Việt Nam, support workforce development, and help local firms enhance technological capabilities and integrate into global supply chains.

The Vietnamese Government, he affirmed, stands ready to facilitate long-term, effective and sustainable cooperation with Italian partners, including Leonardo.

Pontecorvo said Việt Nam’s orientations align closely with Leonardo’s development vision, particularly its shift towards high-quality, innovation-driven investment.

During the visit, Dũng also met staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy, calling for stronger engagement across all levels to further expand bilateral trade and investment.

He urged the embassy to continue acting as a bridge between the Party and the State and the Vietnamese community, while mobilising overseas resources and addressing community concerns. — VNA/VNS