Addressing the seminar, Chairman of Viet Nam - Indonesia Friendship Association Nguyen Dang Tien said Viet Nam and Indonesia have witnessed positive developments in trade exchanges over the years. Bilateral trade increased from US$4 billion in 2012 to US$5.6 billion in 2016 with an annual average growth of 5%.
Both countries agreed to boost all-round cooperation, striving to elevate two-way trade to US$8 billion in 2018 aiming for the target of US$10 billion.
Viet Nam has run only 7 investment projects totally capitalized at US$107 million in Indonesia while Indonesia poured US$437 million in 59 projects in Viet Nam.
In his speech, Indonesian Ambassador to Viet Nam Ibnu Hadi affirmed that his nation attached great importance to Viet Nam’s strategic position in strengthening economic cooperation, adding that Viet Nam is likely to become a gateway for Indonesian investors to penetrate the markets of neighbouring countries like Laos and Cambodia, and Viet Nam’s major trading partners such as the US, the EU and China.
Ambassador Hadi said Indonesia’s key exports to Viet Nam are coal, automobiles, metal, chemicals, paper, and machinery, noting that Indonesia’s investment in Viet Nam continues to perform below its potential.
At the seminar, the Indonesian diplomat also shared information on aviation cooperation between the two nations, revealing that VietJet Air is set to open new direct air route between HCM City and Jakarta in December.
Representatives from the Hanoi People’s Committee, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism also delivered reports on investment opportunities between Viet Nam and Indonesia and put forth several suggestions to speed up the cooperation process.
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