The Vietnamese Embassy in the Kingdom of Belgium and the Belgium-Vietnam Alliance (BVA) co-organized this event as part of the Thai Binh Provincial People’s Council delegation’s European tour, led by Chairman Nguyen Tien Thanh, to promote the province’s economic potential and attract Belgian and European partners.
Lien Ha Thai – A pioneer industrial park in the Thai Binh Economic Zone. Illustration photo: The World/ VNA
According to a VNA reporter in Brussels, in his remarks at the workshop, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and Head of the Vietnamese Mission to the EU, Nguyen Van Thao, highlighted the diverse cooperation potential between the two countries in six critical areas: port-logistics, modern agriculture, green energy, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, human resources training, and people-to-people exchange. The ambassador emphasized that in December 2022, Vietnam was the third country globally to approve the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with the G7 countries, the European Union (EU), Denmark, and Norway. This presents a tremendous opportunity for Thai Binh to collaborate with Belgian partners in the field of green energy, one of the province’s priority sectors for investment attraction.
Permanent Vice Chairman of the Thai Binh Provincial People’s Council, Dang Thanh Giang, presented the province’s economic development in the past year, with a GRDP growth rate of 7.37% compared to 2022. Foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction in 2023 reached over USD 3 billion, ranking 5th in the country. The province’s export turnover reached USD 2.6 billion, a 6.0% increase, while import turnover neared USD 1.8 billion.
Mr. Dang Thanh Giang emphasized that these figures and investment trends in the province confirmed Thai Binh’s strong investment appeal. The province aspires to comprehensive cooperation in multiple fields with Belgian partners, specifically: promoting the exchange and import-export of goods in which both sides have strengths. Seeking opportunities for cooperation in high-tech agriculture, new and renewable energy, climate change adaptation, manufacturing industries, logistics, and services. Facilitating cooperation in education, human resources exchange and training, healthcare, and cultural exchange.
For the 2021–2025 period, Thai Binh has planned to invest in 37 specialized projects in industry, agriculture and fisheries, trade and services, building industrial park and cluster infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, environmental protection, and constructing hydraulic and dyke works. Thai Binh is one of Vietnam’s significant exporters of agricultural and aquatic products, with various agricultural products such as rice, vegetables, and fruits. The province encourages the development of processing industries, supporting industries, and industries serving agriculture, as well as wind power and electricity.
Representing the Belgium-Vietnam Alliance, Mr. Duong Minh Tri, Secretary-General, emphasized that the BVA is always ready to act as a bridge for Belgian businesses to cooperate with Thai Binh enterprises to develop effective investment projects, contributing to the economic growth of Thai Binh Province and Vietnam.
In an interview with VNA reporters, Ms. Chrysoline Monnier, representing the Brussels Investment and Export Promotion Agency (Hub.Brussels), said that the seminar was an opportunity for Hub.Brussels to learn more about Thai Binh Province’s economic potential. She affirmed that Hub.Brussels is committed to supporting Belgian businesses in finding investment and cooperation opportunities in Thai Binh. A delegation of Belgian businesses will soon visit Vietnam, and Thai Binh may be one of their destinations.
Mr. Bonaventure Nzavugambonyi, CEO of Africa Star Solutions, said that his company mainly works with African partners. Still, after the introduction of Thai Binh Province, he saw significant potential for expanding cooperation to Vietnam, especially in agriculture.
At the seminar, representatives of Belgian and Thai Binh businesses exchanged information about their potential and cooperation needs, sought partners for investment projects, and shared business experiences in the Belgian and Vietnamese markets.
Mr. Vu Van Thong, CEO of Emax, a Belgian company specializing in solar panel supply, expressed his delight in learning about Thai Binh Province’s economic potential and Vietnam’s cooperation needs. This knowledge will enable him to establish partnerships in Vietnam in the future.
Chairman of the Thai Binh Provincial People’s Council, Nguyen Tien Thanh, affirmed that with its advantages and development potential, Thai Binh believes it will become an attractive investment destination for Belgian businesses. The province pledges to accompany and create the most favorable conditions for FDI investors in general and Belgian businesses in particular to cooperate in effective investment, production, and business development.
Earlier, the Thai Binh Provincial People’s Council leaders worked with the investment and trade agencies of Belgium’s three regions: Brussels, Wallonia, and Flanders. The delegation introduced the investment environment, preferential policies, and potential and strengths of the province. They also listened to and answered questions from representatives of Belgian investment and trade agencies.
With its proactive efforts in promoting its image, potential, and investment incentives, Thai Binh is gradually asserting its position as an attractive investment destination for domestic and foreign investors. These cooperation and connectivity activities will contribute to the sustainable and efficient development of economic and trade relations between Thai Binh and Belgium’s regions.
