As part of the
EU's efforts to deepen economic relations with countries in the dynamic ASEAN
region, Vice President Antonio Tajani, European Commissioner for Enterprise and
industry, has led a "Mission for growth" to Vietnam.
He was accompanied by 47
representatives from EU industry associations and companies, in particular
those operating in key areas of EU-Vietnam business: the tourism, agri-business
and manufactured goods sectors. This visit was part of a series of missions to
help European enterprises better profit from fast growing international
markets. Trade and investment between the EU and Vietnam has been steadily
growing over recent years, with EU companies considering the country as a
potential production base, a lucrative and growing market and one of the key
gateways to the wider and increasingly integrated ASEAN market. However, when
compared to Asian competitors, the share of European trade and investment is
slowly falling as European small and medium sized enterprises (SME's) face
difficulties in establishing a permanent foothold in Vietnam.
The main
objectives of this Mission for Growth to Vietnam were: to promote innovation
and sustainable and inclusive growth in the EU and in Vietnam; to help EU
companies, and in particular SMEs, to operate in the ASEAN region; and to
promote EU industry in targeted sectors.