Vietnamese Government works to create favourable conditions for Norwegian businesses

Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Government works to create favourable conditions for
Norwegian businesses to do long-term business in Vietnam for mutual benefit,
affirmed Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.

Deputy PM Hai made the affirmation while attending a Vietnam-Norway business meeting
in Hanoi on Feb. 24, adding that Vietnam has been exerting efforts to complete
the legal system and boost administrative reform to facilitate domestic and foreign
businesses operations.

The Deputy PM said that two-way trade of 120 million USD and Norwegian investment
capital in Vietnam in 2009 were modest. He expressed his belief that
opportunities for deeper cooperation would open up as a feasibility study on
establishing a free trade area (FTA) between Vietnam and the European FTA has
begun.

Deputy PM Hai announced that he is scheduled to visit Norway in June.

Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Risa Stale Torstein, also present at the meeting,
stated that Norway stood ready to support Vietnam in economic reform, especially
in the fields of Norway ’s strengths, including energy, ship building and
fisheries.

He further conveyed that in addition to the southern city of Vung Tau , which is
already a centre for Norwegian investment in Vietnam , the country’s businesses
wish to expand operations in Hanoi and in the north-western region.-Enditem