Fientje Moerman, Vice Minister President of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Economy, Enterprises, Science, Innovation and Foreign Trade, told the Vietnam News Agency that Flanders signed an agreement on scientific cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Technology. Under the agreement, the two sides will share their knowledge of science and technology over the 2008-2010 period, focusing on new materials, aquaculture, information and communication technology and tropical medicine. 

Economically, Flanders has exported to Vietnam machinery, gemstones and chemicals. But in the future, scientific cooperation will serve as a foundation to boost economic ties between the two sides, she said.

According to Mrs Moerman, more than 20 enterprises from Flanders are operating in the Dinh Vu industrial zone in the northern port city of Hai Phong. Their projects, with a total capitalisation of US$300 million, are focused on liquefied gas, petrochemicals, steel production and animal feed. 

In addition, Flanders and Vietnam have established cooperation in education and training. She said many Vietnamese students are currently studying at the region’s universities and more are expected to arrive in the near future. Notably, Flanders allows Vietnamese students to attend MA and PhD courses majoring in hi-tech industries.