New Zealand, Australia hold investor seminar HA NOI ? The...

New Zealand, Australia hold investor seminar

HA NOI ? The Australian and New Zealand Governments yesterday launched a seminar to promote their countries' benefits to Vietnamese businesses and investors in Ha Noi.
Australian Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to Viet Nam Tony Burchill emphasised the importance of holding the investment seminar in Ha Noi.

"As Viet Nam's economy continues to grow and develop, its businesses are also growing and increasingly looking to opportunities to expand and prosper, which includes investing overseas," Burchill said.

"Whether to secure upstream supply, tap into skills and new technologies or access new markets, Australia and New Zealand have open investment regimes and provide Vietnamese businesses with a stable business environment and attractive investment opportunities.

"The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) stand ready to help Vietnamese explore such opportunities," he said

Australian Ambassador to Viet Nam Allaster Cox highlighted the strong and growing trade links between Australia, New Zealand and Viet Nam.

He hoped Vietnamese investors would see the potential good opportunities in Australia and New Zealand to enhance investment and trade activities between the three countries.

New Zealand Ambassador to Viet Nam Heather Riddel said: "The ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area, which came into force on January 1, helps facilitate investment between the three countries."

During the seminar, ASEAN investment specialists from Austrade and NZTE spoke about what made Australia and New Zealand attractive places to invest. They highlighted their economic and political strengths and investment opportunities in sectors such as mining and resources, agribusiness, food and beverage, manufacturing, financial services, education and training, and tourism.

Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice president Hoang Van Dung said delegations of Vietnamese businesses had paid visits to Australia and New Zealand, seeking investment opportunities, mainly in power, mining and agricultural sectors.

"The seminar would help Vietnamese businesses approach investment opportunities in the two countries," Dung said.

"Australia and New Zealand had open investment environments and there was no obstacles for Vietnamese investors," said Vu Linh, project director of Tincom Australia, affiliate of Vietnamese Thang Long Investment and Commercial JSC in Australia.

"At present, my company has a joint venture with an Australian partner, Victoria Coldry, to exploit and process brown coal for thermo electric plants in Viet Nam and other countries," Linh said, " I think so far, it is easy to invest in Australia."

Vietnamese investors had often made investments in Cambodia, Laos and Russia because investment environments in those countries were similar to the environment in Viet Nam, said Thomas McClelland from Deloitte Viet Nam Tax Company Ltd.

"However, Vietnamese investors do not need to worry about the different investment environment in the two countries because Deloitte can advise them about issues related to the investment environment there," McClelland said.? VNS