Strengthening Connections Between Embassy and Vietnamese-Dutch Business Community

This year’s event is expected by all attending guests because this is Ambassador Ngo Huong Nam’s first official meeting with the business communities of the two countries. Photo: WVR

The Vietnamese Embassy in the Netherlands on December 8 coordinated with the Dutch Business Association Vietnam (DBAV) to organize the event “Meet Ambassador Ngo Huong Nam” with the theme “EVFTA: Bilateral trade growth after three years of implementing the agreement and EVIPA: A solid foundation for investment cooperation activities of Dutch businesses in Vietnam.”

The “Meet Ambassador” is an activity organized to enhance dialogue and exchange between the Embassies and the business communities of the two countries.

This is also an opportunity for businesses that are planning to invest and do business in Vietnam to listen to the experiences and shares of businesses that have been investing in Vietnam.

This year’s event is expected by all attending guests because this is Ambassador Ngo Huong Nam’s first official meeting with the business communities of the two countries.

The event had discussion content directly related to business operations both in Vietnam and the Netherlands.

Gabor Fluit, representative of EuroCham, spoke at the event. Photo: WVR

At the meeting, Ambassador Ngo Huong Nam reviewed some outstanding activities of the two countries in 2023 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations, starting with the visit to the Netherlands by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in December 2022, and ending with the visit to Vietnam by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in November 2023.

The Ambassador was also pleased to announce the State visit of the King and Queen of the Netherlands to Vietnam in March 2024, at the invitation of Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong.

After that event, there will be practical activities of the two countries’ governments to celebrate five years of comprehensive partnership and ten years of strategic partnership on sustainable agriculture and food security.

Reviewing the cooperation in the fields of trade and investment between the two countries, the Ambassador highlighted proud achievements after more than three years of implementing the EVFTA.

Bilateral trade between the two countries has grown impressively (an average of 22% in the period 2020-2022, bilateral trade turnover reached US$11.1 billion in 2022).

The Netherlands became Vietnam’s second-largest trading partner and largest investor in the EU (with a total registered capital of US$14.3 billion, and 432 valid projects).

According to Ambassador Ngo Huong Nam, the Netherlands is still one of 10 countries that have not ratified the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) even though the Dutch business community investing in Vietnam believes that the agreement will have a favorable impact on their investment cooperation activities in Vietnam.

The Ambassador expressed his wish that the Dutch business community, through the Dutch Business Association Vietnam as well as the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, propose to the National Assembly and the Dutch Government to soon ratify EVIPA.

Delegates at the event. Photo: WVR

Guests from Dutch ministries and branches as well as businesses participating in the meeting appreciated the executive role of the Vietnamese government in the context of many difficulties and challenges in the world and region in the past two years.

Vietnam still maintains macroeconomic stability, promotes growth, controls inflation, and is still considered a good business investment environment for foreign investors, including the Netherlands.

Ambassador Ngo Huong Nam affirmed that the Embassy is ready to be a bridge and channel to receive recommendations from businesses to improve institutions and create favorable conditions for investors to feel secure in operating in Vietnam.