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| Mr. Vu Ba Phu spoke at the event. (Photo: hanoimoi.vn) |
In his speech at the event, Mr. Vu Ba Phu, Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency, said that 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of Vietnam – Slovenia diplomatic relations, creating momentum for economic and trade development.
Since the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) took effect, Vietnam – Slovenia bilateral trade turnover has increased 12 fold, from 46.1 million USD in 2012 to 516 million USD in 2023.
By the end of August 2024, Slovenia ranked 92nd out of 146 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with three valid investment projects and a total registered capital of 2.3 million USD.
Despite impressive growth, the trade turnover between Vietnam and Slovenia is still modest. The two sides saw much potential to expand trade and cooperation because the import and export structure between Vietnam and Slovenia is not only non-competitive but also complementary.
"This offers favorable conditions for businesses of the two countries to build and develop cooperative relationships and diversify supply chains, especially for industries that each side has strengths in, such as agricultural and aquatic products, textiles, footwear, wooden furniture and household appliances of Vietnam or logistics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electronic products and machinery of Slovenia,” said Mr. Vu Ba Phu.
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| The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding. (Photo: hanoimoi.vn) |
Within the framework of the forum, a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency and the Slovenian Business Development Agency (SPIRIT Slovenia).
The memorandum created a stable, sustainable and systematic cooperation mechanism; contributing to promoting the cooperative relations between the Trade Promotion Agency and SPIRIT Slovenia, and strengthening the economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and Slovenia in general.
At the forum, there were two discussion sessions on sea and road transport services in the context of the global supply chain currently focusing on the Asia-Pacific region and Europe.
The highlight of the forum was the Vietnam - Slovenia Business Connection Program with the participation of nearly 100 businesses in the fields of transport and logistics./.