During the meeting, Mr. Simon Bridges mentioned that New Zealand businesses have been interested in Vietnam’s remarkable development over the past 20 years. They have seen many opportunities to invest and do business in Vietnam, and have had many successful projects in Vietnam.
Recognizing the favorable investment environment and potential in Vietnam, New Zealand businesses have actively worked with Vietnamese ministries, sectors, and enterprises. They hope that the Vietnamese government will continue to create favorable conditions and promote investment and business activities in Vietnam, especially in sectors such as renewable energy, real estate, aviation, and fruit and vegetable import and export.
After the ministers discussed and addressed the proposals of New Zealand business leaders, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed the businesses that already have or are planning to invest in Vietnam. He assured that Vietnam is committed to creating favorable conditions and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of investors to ensure effective and sustainable investment and business activities in the country.
According to the Prime Minister, Vietnam-New Zealand relations have been developing positively in all fields for nearly 50 years and are aiming for new heights. Both countries have participated in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
“This is an important foundation for businesses from both countries to promote investment cooperation,” emphasized the Prime Minister.
Simon Bridges, Chairman of the Auckland Business Chamber, stated that New Zealand businesses have seen many opportunities to invest and do business in Vietnam, and have had many successful projects in Vietnam. |
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presented the sectors of interest and potential for cooperation and investment in Vietnam, which are also the priority sectors for Vietnam’s development. He suggested that New Zealand businesses continue to work with Vietnamese ministries and sectors to implement specific projects.
In terms of renewable energy, Vietnam is in the process of energy transition and has great potential for wind and solar power development. There is also a demand for the development of new urban areas and industrial infrastructure. Vietnam is interested in importing certain agricultural and aquatic products from New Zealand and hopes to export fruits and other agricultural products that New Zealand needs.
Regarding the aviation sector, the Prime Minister mentioned that Vietnam used to have direct flights to New Zealand, but they were disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as the economy and society recover, with thousands of Vietnamese people living, working, and studying in New Zealand, and Vietnamese people’s love for traveling to New Zealand, there will be agreements to improve visa policies. The demand for travel and transportation of goods between the two countries will increase, and there will be great opportunities to fully reopen direct flights.
Asserting that there is still great room for cooperation and investment between Vietnam and New Zealand, the Prime Minister believes that there needs to be high determination, great effort, and specific solutions to promote development cooperation in the new period. In the immediate term, efforts must be made to overcome supply chain disruptions and to quickly raise two-way trade to 2 billion USD.
During the morning of March 10, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited the New Zealand Crop and Food Research Institute. Here, he expressed his hope that both sides would continue to make use of the achieved cooperation results and accelerate cooperation in areas with great potential, especially making breakthroughs in agricultural cooperation.
Also during the morning session, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with representatives of the Vietnam Intellectual Network Connection Organization operating in New Zealand (VietTechNZ) and met with Professor Neil Quigley, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waikato and Chairman of the Council Board of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.
