On the morning of January 19 local time, in Prague, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Mr. Klaus Zellmer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Skoda Group, the largest automobile manufacturer in the Czech Republic.
In Vietnam, in 2022, Skoda Auto and Thanh Cong Group signed a cooperation agreement to produce and distribute Skoda-branded vehicles with the goal of localization, applying modern technology and clean energy. In September 2023, fully imported Skoda models were officially launched in the Vietnamese market.
Skoda and Thanh Cong are implementing a project to build a manufacturing and assembly plant in Viet Hung Industrial Park, Ha Long, Quang Ninh worth 500 million USD, expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025. This is also the first Skoda car factory in Southeast Asia. According to the roadmap, the first two CKD (completely assembled) models, Kushaq and Slavia, will be introduced in 2025.
At the meeting, Skoda leaders expressed their affection for the country and people of Vietnam, assessing Vietnam as an important gateway to access the ASEAN market. Vietnam has the potential to become Skoda's automobile production and export center in the ASEAN region and other markets.
Assessing Thanh Cong as a reliable partner, Mr. Klaus Zellmer updated the project progress in Vietnam as well as the plan to increase the localization rate; paying attention to support and incentive policies.
Appreciating Skoda's cooperation and investment activities in Vietnam stemming from 'intelligence and heart', the Skoda brand is also familiar with the Vietnamese market, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed the automobile factory project being implemented in Viet Hung Industrial Park, Ha Long, Quang Ninh - a place with the highest per capita income in Vietnam.
The Prime Minister asked Skoda to continue to closely coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and relevant agencies to discuss CKD projects in Vietnam, future development plans, ensure compliance with legal regulations and relevant investment procedures, as well as continue to seek opportunities to expand investment and business in the Vietnamese market.
Regarding the issues Skoda is interested in, the Prime Minister said that Vietnam has incentives and support if investors meet the conditions on high technology transfer, improving science and technology content, having large investment scale and supporting Vietnamese enterprises to participate in the value chain.
Localities can also creatively apply preferential policies within the framework of general regulations and local conditions, such as on workers' housing, premises rental, fees and charges, etc.
The Prime Minister asked Skoda to step up research and development of electric vehicles and increase the localization rate and technology transfer to Vietnam.
The Vietnamese Government is committed to always creating favorable conditions, in accordance with the provisions of law, for the group in particular and Czech investors in general to invest and do business effectively and sustainably, in accordance with the provisions of law in Vietnam.
VTV1 News Video reports on the meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chairman of Skoda Group
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