Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong attended the forum and reaffirmed that investors are considered a part of the Vietnam’s economy. They have a chance to access 85 million customers and more than 600 million people of other ASEAN member countries. Mr Trong emphasised that Vietnam can obtain new opportunities and create the best possible conditions for investors to join its market. Mr. Trong added that Vietnam encourages investors to discover the country’s potential through specific co-operative opportunities at the three leading economic centres: Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho.

After Mr Trong’s speech, representatives from the three leading centres presented incentives to attract investors and lists of projects needing foreign investment capital.

At an exchange on information technology, representatives of the Ministry of Science and Technology discussed Vietnam’s strength in human resources and policies in the field of information technology, demonstrating that Vietnam is an attractive destination for US software companies. The US Agilis Solutions Company shared experiences in Vietnam over the years as proof.

Deputy PM Trong also presided over the Vietnam Education Conference. He reviewed landmarks in education co-operation between Vietnam and the US, particularly in June 2008 when the US Department of State and the Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training signed an agreement to establish a Vietnam-US Education Task Force to conduct researches and propose measures to boost co-operation between the two countries.

Deputy PM Trong reaffirmed with representatives from US universities that Vietnam wants countries with advanced education to help carry out education reform in Vietnam and bring education into new heights. He called scientists, professors and investors as well as overseas Vietnamese to initiate measures to help Vietnam.

Deputy PM Trong witnessed signing co-operation agreements between Vietnamese and US universities.

*** At the Tourism and Aviation Forum on the same day, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Tran Chien Thang said that despite difficulties, investment in tourism is impressive. In the first half of this year, FDI in tourism reached US$8.87 billion, accounting for 50 percent of the total FDI in Vietnam.

In the evening of November 11, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong held a banquet to welcome the success of “Meet Vietnam”.