New British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City 'reveals' upcoming series of trade events between the two countries

New British Consul General, Ms. Alexandra Smith and Deputy British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. William Lawrenson - Photo: N.BINH

New British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Alexandra Smith expressed the UK's commitment to the Asia-Pacific region and especially the diplomatic and trade partnership with Vietnam during a recent meeting with Ho Chi Minh City press.

According to Ms. Alexandra Smith, the UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will be a major driving force to promote trade relations between the two countries in the coming time.

At the same time, the UK continues to support Vietnam in sustainable development, with a focus on education, finance, and energy transition.

Meanwhile, Deputy Consul General of the UK in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. William Lawrenson, emphasized the foundation of extensive trade cooperation between the UK and Vietnam.

With total bilateral trade reaching US$7.14 billion by 2023, Vietnam has become one of the UK's leading trading partners in Southeast Asia.

The UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), which took effect in 2021, has created a favorable environment for British businesses to invest more strongly in Vietnam, with FDI inflows reaching US$4.2 billion by the end of 2022, along with 507 projects, promoting technology transfer and knowledge sharing.

The representative of the British Consulate General also informed about a series of important trade and economic events that will take place in the coming time between the two countries.

Specifically, next September, the mayor of London in charge of the UK financial sector will visit Vietnam to strengthen financial cooperation between the two countries.

A British delegation will attend the Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum, contributing to promoting economic cooperation initiatives and opportunities between the two countries. This year's forum will take place on 25 September with the theme "Industrial transformation, a new driving force for sustainable development in Ho Chi Minh City".

In addition, in November, a delegation from the UK will attend the Green Economy Forum and Exhibition (GEFE 2024) in Ho Chi Minh City, to discuss solutions for sustainable energy transition. Also in November, there will be a birthday party for His Majesty King Charles III of England.

The UK Seafood Expo in December focuses on introducing high-quality British seafood products to the Vietnamese market, expanding bilateral trade opportunities.

UK Tech Week in Southeast Asia will take place in early 2025. This event will be an opportunity for the two countries to collaborate on technology innovation, with the aim of creating momentum for sustainable technology projects and innovation.

"With a strong foundation of bilateral relations, these events not only create opportunities for trade development between Vietnam and the UK, but are also important steps in strengthening the comprehensive partnership between the two countries," the representative of the British Consulate General affirmed.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tan-tong-lanh-su-anh-tai-tp-hcm-tiet-lo-chuoi-su-kien-thuong-mai-sap-toi-giua-hai-nuoc-20240823195833022.htm