EU explore business opportunities in South-East Asia

European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani has concluded a two-day trip to Vietnam focusing on deepening economic relations with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the regional trade bloc.

Tajani was accompanied by 47 representatives from EU industry associations and companies during the “Mission for growth” expedition. Businesses accompanying the Vice-President centred on those operating in key areas of EU-Vietnam business, specifically tourism, agri-business and manufactured goods sectors.

The main objectives of the trip were to promote innovation and sustainable and inclusive growth in the EU and in Vietnam; to assist EU companies, and in particular SMEs, to operate in the ASEAN region; and to promote EU industry in targeted sectors. Tajani inaugurated the EU-Vietnam Business Network during his trip to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s economic capital.

Tajani also met with the Vietnamese Prime Minister, Nguyen Tan Dung, and Vu Huy Hoang, Minister of Industry and Trade, as well as Bui Quang Vinh, Minister of Planning and Investment. A letter of intent to establish a dialogue on SME Policy was also signed to encourage greater co-operation between export-oriented SMEs between the EU and Vietnam.

Tajani also visited Myanmar/Burma and Thailand. The visit is part of a series of missions to help European enterprises better profit from fast growing international markets.