KARACHI: Nguyen ThiDiep Ha, head of the Vietnam Trade Mission, has expressed her desire to enhance economic and trade relations between Pakistan and Vietnam.
Speaking at the first meeting of the Pakistan-Vietnam Business Council held under the chairmanship of Saqib Fayyaz Magoon where a cake cutting ceremony was also held to mark the 75th Independence Day of Vietnam, she said that Vietnam was among the top 50 countries by COVID-19 in terms of safety.
Appreciating the role of the FPCCI, Nguyen ThiDiep Ha said that meetings of the Joint Business Council (JBC) should be organized regularly followed by B2B meetings so that close interaction between Pakistan and Vietnam was established.
Saqib Fayyas Magoon, chairman of the Pakistan-Vietnam Business Council, said that Vietnam had set an example by achieving socio-economic progress in the shortest possible time.
He further said that Vietnam could establish import-substitute industries in Pakistan, and investment could be made in the technological sector as well.
He also proposed arranging of B2B meetings, exhibitions and seminars for promoting bilateral ties between Pakistan and Vietnam.
Khurram Ijaz, vice president of the FPCCI, thanked Nguyen ThiDiep Ha for her visit to the Federation house.
He said the two countries lacked information about each other's economic, trade and investment potentials, and there was low level of interaction between the private sectors of the two countries.
The FPCCI vice president further said that due to COVID-19, business activities had come to a halt, but now as economic activities were being revived, it was the need of the hour that efforts were made for improving bilateral trade relations between Pakistan and Vietnam, tapping new opportunities for investment and joint ventures.
He said that Pakistan government had introduced investment-friendly policies, and there were opportunities for joint ventures in the special economic zones, food processing and telecommunication sectors.
Shabir Mansha said it would be mutually beneficial for both the nations to sign a free trade agreement.
He also sought information about free trade zones in Vietnam as well as about synthetic leather being imported from Vietnam.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020