~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

Year :      [2004]      [2003]      [2002]      [2001]      [2000]      [1999]      [1998]      [1997]

Vietnam hosts investment conference

HANOI - Hoping to boost business ties with Singapore, Vietnam's prime minister opened a forum here Tuesday with promises of economic reform and continued growth. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai opened the three-day investment conference in Hanoi with talk of breaking down monopolies, enhancing Vietnam's stock market and working toward accession to the World Trade Organization.

He said Singaporean investors should feel confident putting their money in Vietnam. "At this conference, I once again would like to assure you of the Vietnamese government's determination in implementing the 'Doi Moi' policy, economic reform and deeper integration with the regional and world economies aimed at building stable, transparent and more liberal investment and business relations with all investment and trading partners," Khai said. "Doi Moi" is Vietnam's economic reform drive that began in the mid-1980s and centers on a shift to a market economy.

Raymond Lim, Singapore's acting second minister of finance and senior minister of state for foreign affairs, who is leading a delegation of Singaporean business people, said the two countries have a lot to offer each other. Singapore can help Vietnam develop by giving it access to the island nation's established links to the global economy, while Vietnam can provide Singapore with a good place to do business, he said. Singapore was Vietnam's third-largest trading partner last year with two-way trade totaling $3.5 billion, he said, adding Singapore invested $7.4 billion in 288 projects in Vietnam by the end of 2003.

The Associated Press - August 17, 2004.