Ambassador Ngo Duc Manh (right) and Mr. S. Levchenko, governor of Irkutsk province (Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in Russia)
The governor said that Irkutsk province is very interested in cooperation development with Vietnam in many fields, including economy, trade, investment, healthcare, tourism and education.
At present, about 200 Vietnamese students are studying at universities in Irkutsk, especially Irkutsk State Technical University. Mr. S. Levchenko hoped to increase the number of students studying at universities, not only at Irkutsk State Technical University, but also at Irkutsk State Agrarian University and Irkutsk State Medical University.
He said that Irkutsk has a lot of potential economy and foreign investment attraction. The province has the largest freshwater reserves and forest area in Russia, and many natural resources of coal, gold, aluminum, oil and gas.
The province has four big hydroelectric plants, therefore the electricity price there is very low. Irkutsk is one of the leading provinces in foreign investment attraction. In 2017, foreign investment in the locality reached USD9 billion. The administration of the province has paid much attention to foreign investment attraction, especially from Asian countries.
Mr. S. Levchenko called on Vietnamese businesses to go to Irkutsk to learn about investment opportunities and establish companies there, to benefit from preferential tax policy in special economic zones (the first five years is 0% , following five years 5%). Irkutsk is also boosting its exports. In 2017, its exports reached USD1.5 billion, including exports of foodstuffs to Vietnam. He is also interested in tourism development between the two countries.
The governor express his pleasure about the two sides have maintained exchanges of youth delegations for summer vacation over the past seven years. Officials of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union go to Irkutsk to exchange experiences and attend training courses on union affairs. These are good activities to educate the tradition and create conditions for the young generations of the two countries to understand each other, strengthening the solidarity between Vietnam and Russia. He also highly appreciated the Vietnamese community living in the province.
Mr. S. Levineko noted that in the end of 2017 he visited Vietnam and met with the leaders of the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association, attended the conference on cooperation between Irkutsk and Quang Ninh provinces. During the visit to Irkutsk in May, the leaders of Quang Ninh and Irkutsk provinces will sign a cooperation agreement.
Ambassador Ngo Duc Manh appreciated the governor’s sentiment for Vietnam. He supported the study and exchange between young generations of the two countries, especially as Irkutsk is the only state of Russia having a governor who is a member of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation.
The ambassador hoped that the governor and the administration of Irkutsk will continue to support, help and create conditions for Vietnamese students and community to study, do business and live in the province. Mr. Ambassador said that he would soon visit Irkutsk province to learn about the potential, investment opportunities and business in the province to connect businesses of the two countries./.