Vietnam and Spain are standing a good chance to further develop ties, given that the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) took effect from August and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVPIA) has already ratified by Vietnam and is pending ratification in the EU, Vietnamese Ambassador to Spain Hoang Xuan Hai has said.

Hai made the statement at a forum on new business and investment opportunities in Vietnam for Spanish companies co-held by the Embassy of Vietnam and the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Andalusia (CEA) as part of his visit to the city of Sevilla, Spain’s Andalusia on November 8–9.

The ambassador highly valued the 44-year diplomatic relation and 12-year Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Spain which has seen progress in multiple areas, particularly economics. He highlighted that bilateral economic ties have grown remarkably, with two-way trade expanding to US$ 3.25 billion in 2019 from US$ 650 million in 2009.

Despite COVID-19 impacts, the bilateral trade reached US$ 2.3 billion in the first nine months of this year, he emphasised, adding that Spain is running 82 investment projects, worth over US$ 134 million, in Vietnam.

In a meeting with CEA President Javier Gonzalez de Lara y Sarria, Hai said he wants to cooperate with the CEA to help Spanish firms explore opportunities in the Vietnamese market, especially in hi-tech agriculture. His host, meanwhile, said it is the first economic forum on Vietnam ever held by the CEA, describing as a landmark milestone in the bilateral trade relations.

The Vietnamese ambassador also had a meeting with José Enrique Millo Rocher, Secretary General of Foreign Action of Andalusia, during he held that the economic ties between Vietnam and Spain, though growing, are yet to match both countries’ potential and advantages.

Vietnam treasures relations with Spain generally and Andalusia particularly so it has appointed an honorary consul at Sevilla, he stated.

The Spanish side highlighted that the EVFTA offers an opportunity for boosting the bilateral trade and investment and agreed to further bolster the ties in the coming time when the pandemic is brought under control.

Source: Nhan Dan Online

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