The Vietnamese Government will create the best conditions for US groups to expand investment and business activities in Vietnam in all areas to help the US become the No1 foreign investor in the country.
The message was delivered by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung during separate receptions for representatives of nearly 20 US leading business groups including AIG, Citigroup, Bantry Bay, Ventures-Asia, Conoco Philips, Merriill Lynch and Vietnam Partner in New York on September 28.
He noted that Vietnam has succeeded in shifting its economy into the market economy status. The country has achieved a high economic growth rate in many consecutive years while maintaining political stability and embarking on the sustainable development strategy.
“Vietnam is an effective investment destination for US businesses,” affirmed Mr Dung.
Leaders of these groups spoke highly of Vietnam’s investment environment and expressed their wish to expand cooperation with the country in insurance, trade, finance, banking, infrastructure development, energy, aviation, tourism and other services.
In this spirit, the US-ASEAN Business Council announced its decision to open its representative office in Hanoi, while AIG President Mark Sullivan pledged to build Vietnam’s tallest skyscraper in the capital city.
Business circles of the two countries signed cooperation and investment deals worth billions of US dollars. Among them, the Vietnam National Shilling Lines (Vinalines) signed a US$3 billion deal with SSA Marine and a US$1 billion deal with Citigroup to develop ports, maritime transport services and ship fleets, and invest in the real estate market.
The High-level US-Vietnam Advisory Council pledged to provide further assistance to Vietnam to help the country increase its competitive capacity, expand cooperation in personnel training and policy making.
Thomas J. Valleyly, director of the Vietnam Programme of Harvard University affirmed that the university wants to expand cooperation with not only Ho Chi Minh City National Economics University but also other universities and research institutes in Vietnam, with priority to be given to training, development of public policies, science and technology.
The same day, the Vietnamese PM rang the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and witnessed the signing a cooperation deal between NYSE and the Hanoi Securities Trading Centre.
Mr Dung said the deal marked a new step in relations between NYSE and the Vietnam stock market. Meanwhile, NYSE Chief Executive Officer John Thain said that NYSE is ready to share experience and assist Vietnam in personnel training and technology transfer to boost effective cooperation between the two stock markets.
Both host and guest expressed their wish that Vietnamese companies will soon list their shares on the bourse of NYSE.
On September 29, Prime Minister Dung left New York for Paris to begin an official visit to France at the invitation of his French counterpart Francois Fillon.
Source: VOV