EAEU-Viet Nam Free Trade Area and opportunities discussed in Russia

Jun 29, 2017 | 10:16 AM GMT+7

A roundtable discussion on “The Free Trade Area between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Viet Nam: New Opportunities for Business” took place in Moscow on Tuesday, inspired by the upcoming visit of President Tran Dai Quang to Russia.

EAEU-Viet Nam Free Trade Area and opportunities discussed in Russia
A booth displaying Vietnamese garments and clothing at an exhibition in Russia. Photo: Vietnamplus

The event was organised by the Russian Chamber of Commerce, the Workshop for Eurasian Ideas Fund and the NGO “Business People”.

It was attended by more than 100 diplomats, policymakers, economists, analysts and experts in the field of Eurasian economic integration and representatives from authorities and commercial companies from Viet Nam and Russia.

The roundtable discussed economic co-operation between Viet Nam and Russia as well as Viet Nam and the EAEU. Delegates proposed ways to solve problems, including new bilateral co-operation models, which can help bring up Viet Nam-Russia trade to US$10 billion by 2020.

In his opening remarks, Chairman of the expert council of the Workshop for Eurasian Ideas Grigory Trofimchuk said taking place ahead the of President Quang’s visit, the event has political significance and drives the development of co-operation between the two countries.

Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Russia Do Xuan Hoang outlined several barriers to bilateral investment, particularly in terms of tariff and administrative systems, but he believed these issues would be soon solved.

During the event, attendees said that Viet Nam plays an important role in Russia’s “Look East” policy and in improving the economies of the EAEU and Russia. They expected Viet Nam would act as a bridge for Russia to make inroads into Southeast Asia and Pacific Asia markets.