On November 19, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), in association with the Turkish Embassy in Vietnam and the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK), organised the Vietnam – Turkey Business Council – the Third Joint Meeting in Hanoi.
The Turkish delegation, led by Necati Abacıoglu, Chairman of the Turkey – Vietnam Business Council, included businesses operating in the fields of agriculture, processed food, cattle feed, oil, chemical substances, cosmetics, paper, paint, electric cables and equipment, housing appliances, packing, wooden products, and automobile and motorbike spare parts.
Speaking at the joint meeting, VCCI Secretary General, Ms Pham Thi Thu Hang, said that the event aims to provide information and offer opportunities for businesses of the two countries to expand investment cooperation. After WTO accession, Vietnam became more attractive to foreign investors with a clearer business climate, which is continuously improved in accordance with international rules.
The Turkish economy grew 9.2 percent in 2010 and 8.5 percent in 2011. Currently, the economy ranks 16th in the world and 6th in the EU with an annual average trade turnover of more than USD300 million.
At the joint meeting, Turkish Ambassador to Vietnam Akif Oktay said that in spite of geographical distance, trade turnover between Vietnam and Turkey rose considerably over the past few years. Turkey became one of the leading export markets for Vietnam in Western Asia. Businesses of the two countries are striving to raise bilateral trade turnover to USD1 billion in 2012. He stressed that in aiming to fulfil the target, Vietnam and Turkey have to boost the signing of agreements on trade promotion and double taxation avoidance. In addition, the Turkish Ambassador noted that the two sides had to find measures to restore bilateral trade balance.
According to statistics of the General Department of Customs of Vietnam, Vietnam-Turkey trade value reached more than USD850 million in 2011, up 35 percent from 2010, and the figure posted USD700 million from the start of the year to the end of September 2012./.
Source: cpv.org.vn
