Opening APEC Investment Forum 2006, PM highlights development opportunity for APEC

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng delivers his speech at the APEC Investment Forum 2006 – Photo: VNGOVNet

In his opening speech, Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng highlighted the significant role played by the APEC in boosting economic development. Comprising 21 members and accounting for 40% of the world population, 56% of the global GDP and 48% of international trade, APEC has made great contributions to the development of its member economies through creating more opportunities for trade and investment promotion within APEC and between APEC and other regions of the world.

The PM said the APEC Investment Forum 2006 was significant as it offered a good opportunity for delegates to share experience, work out measures to improve investment environments, and contributed their comments and ideas to the theme of the 14^th APEC Leaders' Meeting - "Towards a dynamic community for sustainable development and prosperity" – in order to produce the Hanoi Action Plan to realize the Busan Roadmap towards the Bogor goal on trade and investment liberalization.

Mr. Dũng stated that after 20 years of national renewal and eight years of APEC engagement, Vietnam has achieved considerable improvements marked by a high rate of economic growth averaging 7% annually and being over 8% in 2005-06. The country has been enjoying a ride on social and political stability. The Vietnamese people are found to be happy with their improved living standards and highly confident of national development policies pursued by the Communist Party and Government of Vietnam. The country's external relations have been broadened and international economic integration, deepened. Vietnam has proved its openness, dynamism and proactiveness in its efforts to engage in international economic integration. Up to now, Vietnam has maintained trade relations with 220 economies. It has attracted over 8,000 direct investment projects from 76 countries and territories with a total registered capital of US$ 70 billion. This shows the great contribution of Vietnam, as an attractive destination for investors, to the general development of APEC.

Photo: VNGOVNet

Mr. David Knapp, Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AmCham Vietnam), Mr. Sachio Kageyama General Director of Canon Vietnam Company, and Mr. Hafiz Mirza, Chief of the Development Issues Section in the Division on Investment, Technology and Enterprise Development (UNCTAD) expressed their appreciation of Vietnam’s greater status on the international arena and their strong belief in the country’s potential for sustainable development. They pledged calls for international business to set up long-term establishments in Vietnam as well as their willingness to assist Vietnamese enterprises with development.

By Xuân Hồng