According to the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Vietnam is the main trade partner of Spain within ASEAN. Bilateral trade value has grown 15% per year over the past decade and exceeded US$3 billion last year. The two sides have set a target of achieving US$5 billion worth of bilateral trade by 2020.

Hoang Quang Phong, vice president of VCCI, said achievements obtained over the years have up to par but can be improved. Therefore, Vietnam warmly welcomes businesses from Spain, particularly Barcelona, to explore its market.

He said he hopes that businesses will find collaboration opportunities at the conference, especially in the fields that Vietnam is seeking investment such as new energy, renewable energy, the support industry and tourism. 

Merce Conesa, President of the Port of Barcelona, said around 490 million Euros worth of Vietnamese products such as coffee, frozen fish, construction materials and metallurgy products were imported into the European country via the Port last year. This was in addition to 117 million Euros worth of Spanish products going the other way from the Port of Barcelona to Vietnam last year such as chemicals, food, biofuel and metallurgy products.

Spanish businesses, especially in logistics, desire to connect with Vietnamese partners, Ms Conesa added.

The conference provided a good chance for businesses from the two countries to research logistics as well as import and export activities, said Nguyen Van Cong, Deputy Minister of Transport. He hopes that more cooperation programs between the two countries’ businesses will be implemented as a result of the conference.