STA, 8 November 2019 - Slovenia and Vietnam listed logistics, information and communications technology (ICT) and tourism as areas with most untapped potential for cooperation at the second session of the Slovenian-Vietnamese intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation, chaired by Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek and his counterpart Tran Tuan Anh.
The ministers met ahead of the session, discussing current issues of the two countries' economic cooperation and coming to a conclusion that there are opportunities for strengthening cooperation in various sectors, in particular in transport and logistics, ICT and tourism, said the Economy Ministry.
Vietnam has the greatest potential for reinforcing Slovenian exports among all countries of South East Asia, according to the ministry.
Bilateral trade, reaching over EUR 52 million last year and more than EUR 26 million in the first half of 2019, is still below the capacities of both economies; however, it shows a positive trend.
The commission has an important role in recognising those opportunities, with the two sessions focussing on specific ways to strengthen the economic cooperation in the areas with most potential as well as in agricultural mechanisation and food processing.
Počivalšek held talks with Industry Minister Tran Tuan Anh and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh to discuss opportunities in foreign direct investments, digitalisation, agricultural machinery and the wood processing industry.
He said the recent signing of the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement would lead to increased trade since "a stable and predictable business environment creates new opportunities for the trading partners".
Počivalšek started a two-day visit to Vietnam on Thursday accompanied by a government and business delegation, including eleven Slovenian executives who held separate meetings with government officials.
A business conference was held in Hanoi where business opportunities in Slovenia and Vietnam were presented; more than 40 Slovenian and Vietnamese companies participated in bilateral business meetings.
