Tourism Minister Calls for Strengthening of Ties with Vietnam

Union Tourism Minister Shri K Chiranjeevi has said that Vietnam is a pillar of India’s Look East Policy and India gives high priority to strengthening our engagement with Vietnam both bilaterally and within the framework of ASEAN. Addressing a seminar on Trade and Investment organized by the Embassy of India in Hanoi today in coordination with Ministry of Industry and Trade and Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry the Minister said, “ We stand ready to add more content to our ‘Strategic Partnership’, especially in economic, commercial, defence and security, scientific and technical and cultural fields.” While emphasising on bilateral trade Shri Chiranjeevi said; “We have set a target of US$100 billion for ASEAN India trade by 2015. The ASEAN India FTA in goods and the conclusion of negotiation on the ASEAN India FTA in services and investments have laid the foundations for an ASEAN India Free Trade Area, comprising 1.8 billion people and a combined GDP of US$3.8 billion.” The seminar was attended by Mr. Phung Tan Viet, Vice Chairman of People’s Committee of Danang, Mr. Hoang Van Dung, Vice Chairman of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan, Chairman of Vietnam National Tourism Administration and representatives of about 150 Vietnamese companies. The Tourism Minister also had a bilateral discussion with the Chairman of Vietnam National Tourism Administration Mr.Nguyen Van Tuan. During the discussion, the Minister said that the potential for cooperation between the two countries in tourism is very big and proposed that government authorities of both the countries should give the lead to promote the cooperation’s among tour operators in both Vietnam and India. He requested Vietnam to introduce a good package for film making delegations from India so that they can come and shoot films about Vietnam. He invited the Vietnamese delegation to participate in the Indian International Tourism Mart which will be held later this month in Guwahati.