BCCI took part in an online session dedicated to the “Potential sectors of cooperation between Bulgaria and Vietnam”. The event was organized jointly with the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Sofia and the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency /Vietrade/.
The purpose of the online session was to present up-to-date information on the Bulgarian market, as well as on some of the potential sectors of cooperation between the two countries: agriculture, food and light industry. More than 80 representatives of Vietnamese companies and institutions took part in the event.
The online session was officially opened by Ms. Thu Thuy, Deputy Director of Trade promoting center, Vietrade. She emphasized the benefits of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and trade between Bulgaria and Vietnam, expressing hope that the event would provide useful information for Vietnamese companies wishing to find partners in Bulgaria.
Mr. Pham Tuan Huy, Head of the Commercial Office of the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Sofia, made an in-depth review of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force in August 2020. He informed that for a period of 1 year there has been an increase in trade turnover between the EU and Vietnam by 12%, the main products that Vietnam exports to Europe being: textiles, footwear, rice, vegetables, seafood, coffee and spices.
The Commercial Counselor of Vietnam made an overview of the Bulgarian market with a forecast for 2022, emphasizing the competitive advantages of Vietnamese goods. In addition to agriculture and the food industry, Mr. Pham Tuan Huy stressed the good bilateral cooperation in the field of pharmacy, cosmetics and essential oils.
The President of BCCI Tsvetan Simeonov presented the services and capacity of the Chamber to expand cooperation between businesses from Bulgaria and Vietnam. He reviewed the Chamber’s cooperation with Vietnamese partners and the exchanged bilateral visits, and informed about the last visit of the Vice-President of Vietnam to Sofia in October 2021.
Representatives of the Invest Bulgaria Agency and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry reviewed the investment opportunities in Bulgaria and the country’s agricultural and food products market.
Mr. Le Ho Khang, Chairman of Vietnamese businessmen in Bulgaria, shared his experience on the Bulgarian market and the advantages of our country, including its geopolitical location, EU membership, culture and people.
The session ended with a discussion on various aspects of the trade, economic and investment partnership between Vietnamese companies and representatives of the BCCI and other Bulgarian institutions and organizations.