This was announced by businesses from the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETTRADE) and businesses from Wallonie region in Belgium’s Namur province at a seminar on December 12.

At the seminar, Denis Mathen, Mayor of Namur province emphasised the need to establish a “Welcome Office” project for ASEAN in Namur province which he believes will play an important role in boosting Vietnam-Belgium relations in particular as well as Vietnam-ASEAN relations in general.

He said the project will create favourable conditions for Vietnamese companies to penetrate the Belgian and EU markets, adding that he will lead a delegation from Namur province to visit Vietnam in March next year.

Representatives from the Wallonia Foreign Trade and Investment Agency (AWEX) also briefed Vietnamese businesses on the potential of Wallonie and other regions for cooperation in bio-technology, farm produce, health, construction, and hi-tech industry.

Representatives from VIETRADE spoke of Vietnam’s need for more investment to promote economic growth.

Addressing the seminar, Vietnamese ambassador to Belgium, Pham Sanh Chau described Namur as one of Belgium’s provinces which have established special relations with Vietnam. He considered the seminar as a prelude to the upcoming visit to Belgium by General Party Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in January 2013.

The Vietnam trade office in Brussels said it will co-ordinate with local authorities to organise another similar seminar in the near future.

VOV