Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung met with President of the Regional Council of Puglia, Cera Napoleone, and Mayors of Bari, Brindisi and Lecce cities, as part of the Vietnam-Italy Year 2023 programme in Puglia from October 11-12, VNA reported.

The hosts said Puglia is prioritizing innovation in aviation, automation, mechanical engineering, renewable energy and marine economy.

Ambassador Duong Hai Hung and President of the Regional Council of Puglia, Cera Napoleone. Photo: VNA

On the back of shared interests and complementary advantages in economic sectors, Hung hoped that authorities and businesses of both sides will further enhance specific cooperation.

At a seminar on raising awareness of the sea and the blue vision to 2030 of Puglia, the Vietnamese ambassador highlighted potential areas of Vietnam's maritime economy, including its strategic location in international shipping routes, extensive fishing grounds, abundant and diverse marine biological resources, minerals, oil and gas and rich marine tourism resources.

He said Vietnam supports joint efforts in developing a sustainable and climate-resilient ocean economy through specific cooperation activities with partners, particularly Italy, a country with a long coastline and substantial potential and strengths in maritime economy, including Puglia.

Hung also pointed out areas in which Vietnam, together with Puglia region and Italy in general, could work together, including sustainable oil and gas exploration, offshore wind power, aquaculture and fishing; marine tourism, maritime management, biodiversity conservation and marine environment protection, among others.

Ambassador Duong Hai Hung spoke at the seminar on raising awareness of the sea and the blue vision to 2030 of Puglia. Photo: VNA

Meanwhile, Monica Calzetta, representative of the Puglia Region government - said that the goal of the workshop is to increase awareness and unify actions to effectively implement the Green Vision to 2030 that the Puglia region has promoted in 2022, as well as contributing to the comprehensive and long-term development of Italy's blue ocean economy.

Currently, an important priority of the Puglia region is to comprehensively promote marine economic awareness and capacity for local governments, ministries, sectors, businesses, and the workforce.

The seminar was held on the sidelines of the Puglia Boat Show from October 11-15 which brings together enterprises and departments in the maritime and shipbuilding industry, fishing, marine tourism, water sports, and maritime training from Italy, Puglia and foreign countries.

This is an annual exhibition organized by the Italian Marine Industry Association (Confindustria Nautica) in collaboration with the Puglia region, to promote the growth of the economy of the Puglia region and Southern Italy.

Vietnamese and Italian officials. Photo: VNA

Puglia's maritime economy accounts for 53% of the region's total import-export turnover (worth EUR 8.2 billion). There are currently nearly 18,000 businesses with about 72,400 employees operating in this field.

In addition to visiting the booths and exchanging with a number of businesses participating in the maritime exhibition, Ambassador Duong Hai Hung visited the headquarters of Isotta Fraschini Motori, part of Fincantieri Group, one of leading companies in Europe in the field of diesel engine production for both marine, industrial and military applications.

On the occasion, Hung presented a collection of five Vietnamese films to Puglia region to enhance cultural exchanges between the two sides.

He also had a meeting and presentation about Vietnam with representatives of intellectuals and business members of the Rotary Club in the region.

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