Vice Chairman of VCCI Nguyen Quang Vinh and Ms. Elizabeth Bell, Executive Director of the ASEAN New Zealand Business Council (ANZBC)

During a meeting with Ms. Elizabeth Bell, Executive Director of the ASEAN New Zealand Business Council (ANZBC), Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Nguyen Quang Vinh provided specific and detailed assessments of the potential for cooperation between the business communities of Vietnam and New Zealand.

He noted that an increasing number of Vietnamese businesses are exploring business opportunities and seeking partners in New Zealand. In the near future, Vice Chairman VCCI proposed that both sides enhance the exchange of cooperation information, especially regarding policies and programs supporting business development for enterprises in both countries.

He also emphasized the importance of strengthening connections and introducing investment opportunities, particularly linking localities in Vietnam and New Zealand. This would help build a solid foundation for relationships, promote connectivity, and expand the search for additional business and investment opportunities for both New Zealand and Vietnamese companies.

Additionally, Vice Chairman VCCI shared information about the recent 101st ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) meeting and the Joint Business Council (JBC).

Specifically, ASEAN BAC 2024 focused on Heritage Projects aimed at enhancing connectivity and resilience in the region. Notably, one of the most outstanding initiatives was the application of the Sustainable Development Index (CSI) established by VCCI for enterprises in the ASEAN bloc.

Vietnam also welcomes ASEAN BAC's focus on digital transformation as a leverage for economic integration across ASEAN, promoting the idea of transforming ASEAN into an interactive digital market for investment.

In the field of green energy transition, Vietnam appreciates the discussions on green energy transition and the impacts of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), as well as supports ASEAN BAC in establishing a coordinated policy framework across ASEAN to facilitate this transition.

According to the Vice Chairman of VCCI, enhancing ASEAN's role as a "global supply chain powerhouse" is timely and necessary. Furthermore, investment in emerging sectors is also a topic of interest. Vietnam recognizes the potential in areas such as high-value agriculture, high-tech manufacturing, and the digital economy.

VCCI and ANZBC have had specific and detailed discussions about the potential for cooperation between the business communities of Vietnam and New Zealand.

Commenting on the potential for collaboration, ANZBC Executive Director Elizabeth Bell stated that the areas proposed by the Vice Chairman of VCCI align well with New Zealand businesses, particularly in digital transformation and renewable energy.

Southeast Asia and Vietnam are currently focusing on a green economy and a circular economy. Therefore, the ANZBC Director emphasized that there are significant opportunities for technology transfer between the business communities of the two countries, especially among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

According to the ANZBC Director, SMEs are crucial to all sectors of the economy. "We want to facilitate support for SMEs that may not have many resources to participate more robustly in trade activities with partners in the ASEAN region, including Vietnam," she added.

In particular, ANZBC is planning to organize a business delegation to explore the Vietnamese market and learn about various industries in celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Vietnam in 2025. The business activities of these enterprises will focus on sectors prioritized by Vietnam.

For this reason, Elizabeth Bell hopes that in the near future, VCCI will collaborate with the New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam and ANZBC to hold workshops that allow businesses from both countries to better understand market potential, as well as to share mutual insights about each nation, thereby expanding investment opportunities, fostering development, and benefiting both countries.