Mr Dung, who began an official visit to India on July 4, informed more than 200 Indian investors attending the forum about Vietnam’s achievements in recent times, its development potential and investment opportunities.
After highlighting the tradition of friendship between Vietnam and India, the PM noted that two-way trade has increased considerably over the past five years, reaching more than US$1 billion in 2006. Early this year, India’s Essar steel group decided to pour more than US$500 million into a project to build a hot-rolled steel mill in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, making India one of the top ten foreign investors in Vietnam.
“Vietnam welcomes Indian investors,” the PM told the Indian business community and expressed his belief that Indian investors will operate efficiently in Vietnam.
In his welcoming address, the chairman of the Indian Industries Association for the Eastern region B. Gupta affirmed that Vietnam plays a very important role for India and that the Indian business community wants to explore and strengthen cooperation with Vietnamese businesses.
Earlier, Mr Dung was welcomed by West Bengal Chief Minister Shri Buddhabeb Bhattachajee, who expressed admiration for the Vietnamese land and people and hoped that the visit will be successful.
Mr Dung thanked the West Bengal people for their support for the Vietnamese people during the past struggle for national independence, recalling the anti-war movement by the Indian people in Kolkata.
The PM spoke highly of the rapid development of West Bengal which is now one of India’s most dynamic economic hubs, boasting the country’s emergent industries such as information technology and metallurgy.
Mr Dung expressed his hope that West Bengal will make further contributions to strengthening the relations of friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and India.
In the afternoon, the Vietnamese PM flew to Jamshedpur city to call at the Tata group, a world leading steel maker that follows the model of sustainable development in its operation based on a combination of economic development, improvements in social welfare and environmental protection.
During talks with the group leaders, Mr Dung expressed his hope that a similar model would be established in Vietnam when the group builds a steel joint venture project in Thach Khe commune, central Ha Tinh province.
Later, Mr Dung flew to Mumbai in the state of Maharashtra, one of the most important states in the northern part of India which houses modern industries. Mumbai is known as the biggest financial and trade centre in India.
A Vietnam-India business forum was also held in the city, drawing the participation of potential investors from the state and other parts of India.
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