Opening the event, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Thai Lan, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association, noted that amidst global economic fluctuations, the business community has made efforts to maintain production, preserve jobs, and elevate the status of Vietnamese brands. Strengthening cooperation with Eastern European partners opens up further development opportunities in the new context.

Ho Xuan Lam,  Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations, praised business leaders for their contributions to economic development, state budget revenue, job creation, and social welfare programs. He expressed expectations that the corporate community will continue to reinforce solidarity, accelerate digital transformation, advance sustainable development, and raise competitiveness in the international market.

Representing foreign diplomatic missions, Alexander D. Sidoruk, Consul General of Belarus in Ho Chi Minh City, outlined the economic potential and cooperation sectors between Vietnam and Belarus, as well as the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

The Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the EAEU, which took effect in 2016, has offered favorable conditions for businesses on both sides to access markets and expand import-export activities.

Vietnam exports rubber, fish fillets, tires, coffee, and vacuum cleaners to Belarus, while importing potassium fertilizers, dairy products, meat by-products, and pharmaceuticals. The two nations also share strong tourism potential thanks to visa-free policies and direct flight connections linking Minsk with Nha Trang and Phu Quoc.

Oleg Marinov, Commercial and Economic Counselor of Bulgaria in Ho Chi Minh City, introduced adjustments in his country's investment attraction policies. Bulgaria has identified eight priority sectors: healthcare and medical tourism, food and agriculture, transport and logistics, machinery and transport equipment, chemical industry, information technology, and electronics and electrical engineering. These sectors serve as a foundation for enterprises from both countries to explore partnerships.

During the gathering, representatives of the Vietnamese business community highlighted the potential of domestic enterprises and held discussions with diplomatic officials from Belarus and Bulgaria to set orientations for trade, economic, and investment cooperation.

Source: VOV

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