Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia meet on development triangle

VietNamNet Bridge - Strong pledges were made at a two-day meeting on trade and investment promotion into the “Development Triangle” comprising 10 border provinces of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia concluded in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, on Feb. 17.

Pledges showed the three countries’ resolve to boost investment into the region, strengthen internal link and put into full use potential and available resources of each and every province for economic development, especially production of commodities.

“No stone will be left unturned so as to reach the goal for high and sustainable economic growth ratified by the Prime Ministers of the three countries in Vientiane , Laos , on November 28, 2004,” they said in an agreement.

The Vietnamese head delegate, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Bich Dat, said the country has issued open policies, offered numerous stimuli and upgraded infrastructure facilities to boost investment from the three countries as well as other countries into the Vietnamese provinces lying in the “Development Triangle.”

“The Vietnamese Government has also taken measures to encourage domestic investors to invest in Lao and Cambodian provinces lying in the Development Triangle,” he added.

The meeting, the second of its kind to date, was marked with a speech by Senior Minister and Trade Minister of Cambodia Cham Prasith. He emphasised the important role played by the “Development Triangle of Cambodia , Laos and Vietnam ” in the socio-economic development of each province in the region and the common future of the three countries as well.

He said the conference would be a good opportunity for businesses and authorities from the three countries’ provinces sharing the borderline to promote trade and investment so as to turn the “Development Triangle” into a region of socio-economically sustainable development.

The meeting drew in over 100 businesses, plus authorities, from the three countries who shared experiences and informed each other with their own countries’ policies and stimuli for foreign investment.

The region has been highly evaluated for its great potential in hydro-power industry, mining, industrial crops growing and processing, and tourism.

(Source: VNA)

Viet Nam and Cambodia vow to develop trade during visit

PHNOM PENH — Viet Nam and Cambodia should further develop co-operation in industry and trade and effectively implement signed bilateral and multilateral agreements and mutual development commitments to support regional and international integration.

The statement was made by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen when receiving Viet Nam’s Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang in Phnom Penh on Monday.

On the same day, Minister Hoang was received by Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority Sok An.

Sok An expressed the need to strengthen co-operation between Viet Nam and Cambodia in industry and trade, especially in oil and gas exploration and exploitation. He affirmed that Cambodia was ready to boost oil and gas co-operation with foreign partners, including Viet Nam.

At a working session with Cambodian Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy Suy Sem, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on speeding up the construction of a 220kV transmission line between Viet Nam and Phnom Penh through the border Takeo Province as well as a 110kV power transmission system in the border Kompong Cham Province.

They also agreed to jointly implement projects in industry, mining and energy that are part of a co-operative programme approved at the 9 th session of the Viet Nam-Cambodia Intergovernmental Committee in Phnom Penh on August 21.

These include projects to build a hydropower plant on Se San River, establish a mineral exploitation joint venture and train labour for Cambodia.

Minister Hoang and Cambodian Minister of Trade Cham Prasit signed a memorandum of understanding stating that Viet Nam would allow Cambodia to enjoy tariff incentives and non-quota policies on 25 agricultural products.

The two ministers affirmed that two-way trade between Viet Nam and Cambodia would reach U$1 billion this year.

During its stay in Cambodia from November 4 to 6, the delegation worked with the Cambodia Development Council and attended the closing ceremony of the Viet Nam-Cambodia Trade Fair 2007 in Phnom Penh. — VNS

Tay Ninh to increase trade with Cambodia

(03-11-2007)

HCM CITY — The authorities of Tay Ninh Province plan to take advantage of the province’s excellent roads and proximity to major highways to build up trade and tourism with Cambodia, provincial officials have said.

Nguyen Van Nen, chairman of Tay Ninh People’s Committee, cited the Trans-Asia Highway, which runs through the province and links HCM City and Phnom Penh and is considered a gateway to member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The HCM Highway and the HCM City-Moc Bai expressway also run through the province and the road network is accessible to cars throughout the province.

Nen said local authorities would make greater efforts to fully tap these advantages to further develop two major border economic zones.

To attract domestic and foreign investors to the economic zones, provincial authorities have pledged to offer preferential taxes and land rentals and meet regularly with investors to settle difficulties.

The local authorities will focus on development of the two zones as a way to expand trade and tourism between southern Vietnamese provinces and ASEAN countries via the Moc Bai bordergate.

Provincial authorities said trade, industrial production, and the processing and tourism industries would be at the top of the investment agenda until 2020.

On the borderline

The Moc Bai border economic zone in the two districts of Trang Bang and Ben Cau covers 21,283ha and houses a 1,356-ha urban, trade and industrial ucentre.

Trade in the zone bordering Cambodia, established in 1999, has flourished as a result of the Government’s special tax exemption policy.

The zone has set up a duty-free office to sell goods for customers going through the Moc Bai border gate.

According to the province’s tourism department, the number of tourists travelling through the border gate has increased sharply in the last few years, opening up new investment opportunities. —VNS

Vietnam, Cambodia willing to boost cooperation

Vietnam and Cambodia should further develop cooperation in industry and trade as well as effectively implement signed bilateral and multilateral agreements and mutual development commitments to support regional and international integration.

The statement was made by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen when receiving Vietnam ’s Ministry of Industry and Trade Minister Vu Huy Hoang in Phnom Penh on November 5.

On the same day, Minister Hoang was received by Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority Sok An.

Deputy PM Sok An expressed the need to strengthen cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia in industry and trade, especially in oil and gas exploration and exploitation. He affirmed that Cambodia is ready to boost oil and gas cooperation with foreign partners, including Vietnam .

At a working session with Cambodian Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy Suy Sem, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on speeding up the construction of a 220kV transmission line between Vietnam and Phnom Penh through border Takeo province as well as a 110kV power transmission system in border Kongpong Cham province.

They also agreed to jointly implement projects in industry, mines and energy that are part of a cooperative programme approved at the 9 th session of the Vietnam-Cambodia Intergovernmental Committee in Phnom Penh on August 21, 2007.
This includes projects to build a hydropower plant on Se San river, establish a mineral exploitation joint venture and train labour for Cambodia .

Minister Hoang and Cambodian Minister of Trade Cham Prasit signed a memorandum on understanding in which Vietnam allows Cambodia to enjoy tariff incentive and non-quota policies on 25 agricultural products.

The two ministers affirmed that two-way trade between Vietnam and Cambodia will reach 1 billion USD this year.

During its stay in Cambodia from November 4-6, the delegation will work with the Cambodia Development Council (CDC) and attend the closing ceremony of the Vietnam-Cambodia Trade Fair 2007 in Phnom Penh