UK Minister’s visit boosts trade ties

UK Minister of Trade and Investment Lord Green will visit Vietnam next week to strengthen UK-Vietnam trade and investment ties, according to the British Embassy in Hanoi.

During his visit, Lord Green will discuss ways in which the UK can support urban development plans in Ho Chi Minh City, including work on an urban railway system, the new Thu Thiem Central Business District and Long Thanh international hub airport. 

He will share experience in rejuvenating inner city areas in the UK over the years, offering great ideas and examples of how urban development can transform places and lives.

Lord Green’s visit will also be a chance to share the UK’s experience in successfully delivering the London 2012 Olympics and Para-Olympics - the world’s largest sporting events - with the Vietnamese Government as they prepare for the 2019 Asian Games (ASIAD).

The embassy quoted Ambassador Antony Stokes, saying “We set ourselves ambitious targets to boost trade and investment under the 2010 Strategic Partnership Agreement. Now in the 40th year of Vietnam – UK diplomatic relations, this high level visit will stimulate further growth and support flagship commercial projects.”

The UK and Vietnam committed to increasing bilateral trade as part of their Strategic Partnership Agreement and Lord Green will have the chance to discuss with Vietnamese officials and British businesses how this already good relationship can be further enhanced. 

In Hanoi, Lord Green is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and hold working sessions with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. He will witness the signing of an agreement for a UK-funded project “Enhancing the effectiveness of intellectual property rights enforcement in Vietnam”.

While in HCM City, he will chair a roundtable discussion with local administration officials and witness the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding by the British Business Group Vietnam and the UK’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre and the Council of British Chambers of Commerce in Europe.