HCM CITY — A visit by the UK Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox to Việt Nam will open new business opportunities as well as raise bilateral trade revenue between the UK and Việt Nam, including HCM City, said Nguyễn Thành Phong, chairman of the city People’s Committee.

It will contribute to building on the friendship of past years, Phong said at a reception for Liam Fox in HCM City yesterday.

He said the city leaders appreciated the experience and capability of UK businesses and hope to continue to receive co-operation and assistance from the UK in smart urban construction and management experience of PPP projects.

The city welcomes and creates the best conditions for UK businesses to invest in the city, especially in priority sectors such as transport infrastructure construction, healthcare, education and building e-government.

Speaking at the reception, Liam Fox said the UK considers Việt Nam an important and promising trade partner. He underlined many potential areas for further co-operation, including trade, investment, finance and education.

He also said there was strong growth and dynamism in Việt Nam and HCM City in particular and said the UK was willing to support the city during creation of e-government and a smart urban city.

UK business associations are willing to work with the city in introducing, promoting co-operation investment of UK small- and medium-sized enterprises to invest in the city, he said.

The UK ranked 12th out of 86 countries and territories investing in the city.

It was also one of the city’s largest trading partners, with bilateral trade reaching US$826 million last year.  — VNS