Slovakia and Vietnam are preparing for the 65th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic relations scheduled for February 2, 2015. Over the past years, the two countries have recorded many significant achievements in their fine relations and multi-faceted cooperation. “The most prospective sectors for our bilateral cooperation include: energy, infrastructure, industry, defense, agriculture, geology and mining, healthcare, science and technology, environmental protection, water management, waste management, regional cooperation,” said H.E Igor Pacolak, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Vietnam in an interview with Vietnam Business Forum. Le Sang reports.Could you please assess the relations between the two countries over the past years? On the first of September, just one day before Vietnam National Day, Slovakia celebrates its National Day. Also the approaching 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations is a moment for reflection as well as for visions on how to deepen our relations in all areas of common interest. Trade and investment relations between the two business communities have experienced significant growth in recent years. The growing trade turnover between Slovakia and Vietnam reflects the strength of our economic links. In 2013, the bilateral trade volume was recorded at US$407 million, triple the figure of the year 2010. We are, however, concerned about the passive balance on the Slovak side. Therefore, we are interested in its mitigation by setting the trade and investment cooperation as our priority, and also through the participation of Slovak companies in projects financed by the Vietnamese Government. Slovak companies have interest in investing in Vietnam, especially within the fields that have been identified by the Joint Commission on Economic Co-operation between Slovakia and Vietnam, which was held in Hanoi in April 2013. The most prospective sectors for our bilateral cooperation include: energy, infrastructure, industry, defense, agriculture, geology and mining, healthcare, science and technology, environmental protection, water management, waste management, regional cooperation. Both sides agreed to push forward in developing and diversifying bilateral trade in order to reach more effectiveness, on the basis of mutual interests and to promote all economic entities joining the development of trade relations between the two countries. Slovakia has invested in Vietnam so far the total capital of US$235 million, ranking 32 over 101 countries investing in Vietnam. The biggest investment project is the building of the industrial park by the company BTG Holding in the Hoa Binh province. On the other side we are happy to witness the first major investment by a Vietnamese company in Slovakia. In June, the IT enterprise of FPT Software decided to set up its presence in Košice IT Valley, to take full advantage of our highly qualified workforce, friendly business environment and strategic position in the center of Europe in order to foster the growth of its European operations. The recent economic progress of Vietnam underlines the need for the development particularly of the energy sector and infrastructure, where Slovakia has the ambition and potential to assist Vietnam. Within the Vietnam’s energy sector, the focus is primarily set on the nuclear, thermo and hydroelectric power plants, as well as on the renewable energy sources in order to assist Vietnam to build the green economy. Slovakia has over four decades of experience with operating nuclear power plants and is ready to assist Vietnam within its Nuclear Power Program. The relations still lagged behind the two countries´ potential and demand. We believe that regular B2B contacts should enable our companies to convert the untapped potential in our economic cooperation into real projects. In order to make Slovakia more visible and more present in Vietnam we will officially participate at the upcoming exhibition Vietnam EXPO 2014 in Ho Chi Minh City. Moreover, further opportunity to deepen our trade relations will provide the business mission of two regional branches of the Slovak Chamber of Industry and Commerce to Ho Chi Minh City in December 2014. The Chamber will aim to introduce some highly innovative Slovak companies to explore the prospective business opportunities and cooperation, in terms of trade and investment. Slovakia has one of the most dynamic GDP growth rates in the euro area. In line with the World Bank classification, it is a local leader for effective entrepreneurship; and Slovakia has one of the highest rankings in the total Economic Freedom Index. According to statistics, Slovakia has the biggest per capita car production in the world. The electro-technical industry is the second most powerful pillar of the Slovak industry. Success of Slovakia lies in utilizing a mix of factors; country is endowed with a favorable geographic position in the geographical center of Europe. Thanks to its extensive structural economic reforms, membership in organizations as the EU, NATO, OECD and a politically stable government, Slovakia has won the favor of investors who appreciate the positive setting of the country’s economic and tax system, as well as its qualified and dynamic workforce. What should the two countries do to further promote the friendship cooperation? Relationship between Slovakia and Vietnam is strong and deeply rooted in our history. Next year we will celebrate 65th anniversary of the establishment of our bilateral diplomatic relations. Now we can express satisfaction with the impressive development of the relations. Our relationship has experienced memorable moments, highlighted by the visits of our highest representatives. The number of high-level visits carried by both sides has largely increased. This year the visits from Slovakia include the Chairman of the Supreme Court, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Secretaries of State of the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Transport. In the coming months, the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam and the Minister of Justice of Vietnam are expected to visit Slovakia. We also cannot forget about people-to people contacts, which we consider to be one of three pillars, besides politics and economics, on which bilateral relations are built, while appreciating contribution of more than 5 thousand Vietnamese living and studying in Slovakia. More than 3 thousand Vietnamese studied in Slovakia, and they are actively contributing into economic and social life in Vietnam, and are an important bridge between our two countries. How do you access the efforts of the Vietnamese government in its reforms towards a more competitive environment? Slovakia, as a member country of the European Union has ratified the EU-Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in March. We see a great potential for boost of our trade relations in utilising the tariff and non-tariff reductions of the upcoming EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, which will offer new business opportunities for economic operators, enhance inflows of FDI and promote growth and employment. The win-win nature of the agreement will serve as a platform for deepening of our countries´ bilateral trade. Slovakia is a major car producer and as such has interest in decreasing import tariffs on motor vehicles. We are very pleased to see how Vietnam has developed its economy, become a member of the WTO and we want to reiterate our commitment with the efforts of the Vietnamese government in introducing economic and political reforms. We believe that these reforms will contribute towards the positive assessment of Vietnam’s request for market economy status recognition by the EU and to the overall progress of the country. We believe that it is the role of a government, to create concrete connections and to break down the barriers that separate or hamper efforts of people and businesses. Since April 2013 we have witnessed signature of the Memorandums of Understanding between the National Investment and Trade Development Agencies, between the Institutes of Information and Technologies, between the Directorates for Standards, Metrology and Quality, between the Supreme Courts. Negotiations of agreements between Ministries of Education, Ministries of Defense are close to their conclusion. Last year we initiated Memorandums of Understanding in variety of fields: agriculture, environment, transport, science and technology, justice, culture, stock exchange, state securities. We wish to conclude the negotiations swiftly and to start the implementation. Only people and businesses can make those connections concrete and breathe real life into formal agreements. As Slovakia and Vietnam stand firm in their relationship, it would be well to remember that our successful partnership so far has only been possible because of continuous efforts of our governments, enterprises and peoples. How have Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), the Slovak- Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce (SVCC) and Slovak Embassy in Vietnam worked together to promote friendly and cooperation relations between the two countries? In 2005, a cooperation agreement between VCCI and SVCC was signed. In 2011, in collaboration with VCCI to organise Vietnam-Slovakia Business Forum with the aim of strengthening the economic, trade and investment cooperation between the business communities of the two countries. In 2013, in collaboration with VCCI, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Centre for Trade and Investment Development of Slovakia to organize Vietnam- Slovakia Business Forum in Hanoi. At this event, Slovakian Deputy Minister of Economy Pavol Pavlis confirmed Vietnam is an important trade partner of Slovakia.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 06:04:27 +0000
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