The EC President made the remark while meeting with representatives from European businesses, the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (Eurocham), and a number of Consulates General in Ho Chi Minh City on August 26.
He noted two-way trade turnover hit more than US$13 billion in the first six months of 2014, up nearly 13% from a year earlier. Key items included garment and textiles, footwear, coffee, seafood, timber products, electronics, and consumer goods.
As many as 23 out of 28 EU member countries are investing roughly US$18.4 billion in 1,471 projects in the country. HCM City attracted 538 EU-funded projects with a combined capital investment of US$2.8 billion, Manuel Barroso said.
He spoke highly of the EU’s comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam, which he described as a promising market and reliable partner in the region and the world. The EU always strongly supports Vietnam’s development strategy towards building an industrial country by 2020, he underscored.
After the meeting, President Manuel Barroso visited the War Remnants Museum, the Municipal Theatre, the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, and the Municipal Post Office before meeting with HCM City Mayor Le Hoang Quan later the same day.
