This is the first time Da Nang city organized an investment promotion conference in the UAE market. Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UAE Nguyen Manh Tuan stated that the event was of great significance towards the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the UAE (August 1, 1993- August 1, 2023). The UAE is currently Vietnam's largest trading partner in the Middle East and is the 7th largest export market of Vietnam (in 2022, Vietnam has a trade surplus with the UAE of more than 3 billion USD). Meanwhile, Vietnam is always in the group of countries valued by the UAE in terms of bilateral relations. In recent years, the two-way trade turnover has always reached 3 - 5 billion USD, despite the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 epidemic and the regional and global economic decline. The Ambassador also affirmed that Da Nang, with its position as an economic, political and cultural center and a strategic port city of the central region of Vietnam, will continue to play the role of the growth nucleus of the country and is the ideal investment destination of UAE businesses in general and Dubai in particular.
In his remark at the Conference, Chairman of Da Nang People's Committee Le Trung Chinh emphasized that with the goal of becoming one of the major socio-economic centers of Vietnam and Southeast Asia, playing the role of center for start-up, innovation, tourism, commerce, finance, logistics, high-tech industry, information technology, supporting industry..., Da Nang pays special attention to attracting direct investment foreign visitors and desires to invite UAE businesses to invest in the city. Da Nang has been discussing with Emirates Airlines about the possibility of opening a direct route from Da Nang to Dubai to create favorable conditions for UAE businesses to come to Da Nang.
At the Conference, Da Nang city introduced to the participants the advantages of investing in Da Nang, providing specific information on the opportunities for investment incentives for a number of important projects and industries that Da Nang is calling for investment that are also suitable with the potential and strengths of the UAE market such as the project of Da Nang International Financial Center, Lien Chieu Port, logistics centers, tourism, high technology, information technology...
Delegates attending the Conference, especially LuLu supermarket chain (UAE) expressed their interest in seeking investment opportunities to build logistics centers in Central Vietnam in general and Da Nang in particular and will send representative to Da Nang to investigate investment opportunities. Desert Harbor Tourism also proposed that Da Nang city should further promote tourism and consider the establishment of a Da Nang tourism representative office in the UAE to exploit the potential tourist market of the Gulf Arab countries (GCC). Some diplomatic representatives of countries in the UAE also suggested that Da Nang establish sister city relations with localities in the Middle East to promote economic, cultural and political cooperation.
Discussing at the Conference, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UAE Nguyen Manh Tuan suggested that Da Nang actively support businesses to open Da Nang - Dubai direct flights in the near future. In addition, in order to exploit the potential and diverse tourist market of the UAE in particular and the Middle East in general, hotels in Da Nang need to have prayer rooms for Muslim guests and food that have Halal certification. In the coming time, the Embassy plans to organize a Road show to promote Vietnam's tourism in Dubai and propose Da Nang city to encourage tourism businesses to participate. In addition, to promote import-export relations between Da Nang - UAE, Da Nang businesses can take advantage of the World Logistics Passport program to bring Vietnamese goods to penetrate more diversely into the Middle East - Europe market. Moreover, the UAE has a strong position in seaport development, therefore the Ambassador requested the city to provide more information about the Lien Chieu Port project so that the Embassy can support in connecting businesses.
The Da Nang Investment Conference is of special significance, in order to introduce the investment and business environment and opportunities in Da Nang to UAE businesses. Chairman of the People's Committee of Da Nang City highly appreciated the comments of the delegates attending the Conference, expressing his delight to welcome UAE businesses to visit and study investment and business opportunities in the city and committed to creating favorable conditions for UAE businesses to carry out investment and business projects in the city. In addition, the city also hopes that the participating diplomatic missions will support in information sharing and widely promoting the city's investment, business and tourism potential to the world.
(Hanh Nguyen)
