Vietnam eyes Iran as ‘door’ to its neighboring markets
By Gunay Hasanova
Vietnamese Ambassador to Iran Nguyen Hong Thach has underlined further cooperation and interaction with Iran, saying that interaction will help access markets of Iran's neighboring states.
The envoy, addressing a gathering of Kashan industry owners, described Iran and Vietnam industries as complementary to each other, saying that both countries should use the opportunity for promoting cooperation, IRNA reported.
He recalled that the two countries' presidents have met two times in the past seven months, adding that the meetings are the best opportunity for boosting collaboration in various fields.
Iran with over 80 million populations and Vietnam with 94 million have made great markets available to producers and industrialists, according to him.
Thach said that in addition to being a tourism site, Kashan is a suitable place for investment and mutual cooperation.
Kashan Governor Hamid Reza Momenian , in turn, said that capacities of the region will provide a suitable opportunity for promoting commercial and economic ties and joint investment ventures.
“Iranian nation knows Vietnam for its revolutionary record, resistance and has always had good ties with it,” he said.
The trade between Iran and Vietnam hit $350 million last year, according to the official statistics.
In October, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani paid a visit to Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam.
Following the visit, Iran and Vietnam agreed to boost mutual cooperation in trade and investment sectors and also prepare suitable conditions for business in the two countries to help materialize the target of two billion dollars exchanges in future.
The two sides agreed to increase bilateral trade turnover up to $2 billion.
The sides stressed that there is a very good opportunity available in the field of energy for export of oil, LNG, and petrochemicals from Iran to Vietnam and Vietnamese companies are ready to invest in the Iranian oil and gas projects.
Previously, President Rouhani said that Iran is ready to hold the 9th session of the Iran-Vietnam Joint Economic Commission in Tehran in the nearest future.
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Gunay Hasanova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @gunhasanova
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