Vietnam and Bangladesh could be competitors when it comes to readymade garment manufacturing and export but the Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly, Vuong Dinh Hue, recently expressed Vietnam’s strong interest in bolstering bilateral trade and investment ties with Bangladesh.
He also expressed eagerness to cooperate in realising Bangladesh’s vision of becoming a ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041.
This sentiment was conveyed during a courtesy meeting with President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban.
Vuong Dinh Hue emphasised Vietnam’s keenness to enhance existing commerce and investment relations with Bangladesh even if he praised the socio-cultural development under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and assured Bangladesh of full support in achieving its ‘Smart Bangladesh’ aspirations.
President Shahabuddin extended a warm welcome to the Vietnamese delegation and underscored Bangladesh’s significant ties with Vietnam and the broader Southeast Asian region even as he encouraged Vietnamese investment in Bangladesh, noting the country’s favourable investment climate, including the establishment of 100 special economic zones (SEZs).
The President highlighted opportunities for Vietnamese investors to produce goods for the local market and export, particularly to the markets in India’s North-East.
He also called for increased imports of Bangladeshi products by Vietnam, including readymade garments (RMG), leather goods, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, textile materials, raw jute, jute goods, and home textiles.
President Shahabuddin also sought Vietnam’s cooperation in becoming a ‘Sectoral Dialogue Partner’ of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a status for which Bangladesh has already applied.
