(VNF) - The Vietnam – Indonesia Friendship Association in collaboration with the Indonesian Embassy in Vietnam held a workshop on economic and trade cooperation potential between Vietnam and Indonesia in Hanoi on August 19^th.

The workshop summarized Indonesian economic policies: trade, investment and tourism between Vietnam and Indonesia. The event also was host to mark the 71^st anniversary of Indonesian independence (17/8/1945 –2016).

The event saw the participation of Chairman of the Vietnam – Indonesia Friendship Association Nguyen Dang Tien, Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Ibnu Hadi, Chairman of the Committee CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam), (Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and Industry) Juan Gondokusumo, Indonesian Embassy officials, officials of the Department of Asia – Africa and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, representatives of Vietnamese and Indonesian enterprises.

Chairman Nguyen Dang Tien spoke at the event

Speaking at the seminar, Chairman of the Vietnam – Indonesia Friendship Association Nguyen Dang Tien noted that the workshop aims to highlight economic and trade cooperation potential between Vietnam and Indonesia, one of the top priorities of their strategic partnership,

Two-way trade had topped 5.4 billion USD in 2015 and is expected to reach 10 billion USD in 2018, he added.

The establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community at the end of 2015 will enable the nations’ businesses to take full of advantages from investment opportunities to fulfill the bilateral trade target, he said.

Ambassador Ibnu Hadi made a speech at the seminar

Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Ibnu Hadi evaluated that as ASEAN member states; Vietnam and Indonesia have many things in common. The two countries enjoy strong economic growth, have young populations and productive labour forces and aim to industrialize while developing agriculture, fishery and mine exploitation, adding that the two governments define each other as key partners and hope to increase bilateral relations to a new height.

He hoped that workshop was an opportunity for businesses from both countries to meet, exchange information and boost opportunities for collaboration in the future.

Currently, Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world with over 250 million, while Vietnam ranks 14^th globally with over 90 million./.

Minh Phuong