Hai Phong to strengthen cooperation with Dutch businesses and partners

Chairman of the Hai Phong People’s Committee Le Ngoc Chau presided over a courtesy meeting with Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam Kees van Baar at the city Political-Administrative Center on October 2.

Chairman Le Ngoc Chau emphasized that the Netherlands is one of the key European partners of Vietnam in general and Hai Phong in particular. The city always treasures the friendly, multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, the attention and support of the Ambassador, and the effective, practical cooperation of the Netherlands with Hai Phong over the past years.

Sharing with the delegation about Hai Phong’s potential, advantages, and socio-economic achievements, Chairman Le Ngoc Chau noted that Hai Phong currently has 16 foreign direct investment projects from the Netherlands with a total registered capital of 361 million USD, ranking 12th in number of projects and 11th in total foreign investment capital in the city.

In particular, last April, APM Terminals – the Netherlands’ leading container port operator – opened its representative office in Hai Phong and signed a comprehensive strategic partnership with Hateco Group to operate and manage the Hateco Hai Phong International Container Terminal.

Subsequently, in July, during the city Investment Promotion Conference held within the framework of the 3rd meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC III), the city’s leaders welcomed the CEO of CTP Group – the Netherlands’ leading industrial park developer – and proposed that the group study the development of an eco-industrial park model for sustainable growth in Hai Phong.

These are promising signals for a potential wave of Dutch investment in Hai Phong in the near future.

Chairman Le Ngoc Chau expressed his hope that Ambassador Kees van Baar, in his role as a bridge, will continue to promote cooperation activities, connect businesses, and foster investment and trade, including strengthening connections with CTP Group to study and implement cooperation and investment projects in Hai Phong.

Regarding the upcoming visit of the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation to Hai Phong in November, mentioned by the Ambassador, Chairman Le Ngoc Chau assigned the Department of Foreign Affairs to coordinate closely with the Dutch Embassy to arrange the program and ensure the success of the visit.

For the project on investment in a wastewater collection and treatment system using Dutch non-refundable aid, Hai Phong hopes to continue implementing the project and will actively coordinate to carry out the next steps.

In addition, at the meeting, several proposals were made to strengthen cooperation in ports, construction, shipbuilding, high-tech industries, logistics, and maritime services, all of which are priority development sectors of Hai Phong in the coming years. The city is committed to supporting and creating the most favorable conditions to realize these cooperation opportunities.

On his side, Ambassador Kees van Baar congratulated Hai Phong on its socio-economic achievements and affirmed that Hai Phong has always been a key city in the Netherlands’ investment strategy in Vietnam.

The Ambassador proposed that during the November visit of the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation to Vietnam, a business delegation specializing in port development led by the Minister will work with the Chairman of the Hai Phong People’s Committee and relevant departments to learn about Hai Phong’s port planning and development and logistics system, and to promote bilateral cooperation in this field.

Following this meeting, the Ambassador will further communicate Hai Phong’s outstanding socio-economic achievements to Dutch enterprises, including CTP Group, while also hoping that the city will continue to facilitate conditions to promote new, successful, and effective cooperation projects in the future.

BUI HANH - TRUNG KIEN