Hanoi welcomes Irish investors in the city's green sectors as it aims to become an ecological and modern metropolis, Mayor Tran Sy Thanh said on October 17.

Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh (right) meets with Irish Ambassador to Vietnam Deirdre Ni Fhalluin on October 17. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Local authorities are making changes to the city's master plan for urban development and design until 2065, he told a meeting with Irish Ambassador to Vietnam Deirdre Ni Fhalluin.

"Once national lawmakers approve the master plan, Hanoi hopes the ambassador would invite Irish companies to Vietnam's capital to invest in a wide range of sectors, including transportation, infrastructure, environment and water management," he said.

There is ample room for cooperation between Vietnam and Ireland, as the latter is known for its strong agricultural sector using modern farming and production technologies, the mayor said.

"Hanoi highly expects to build decentralized partnerships with Irish localities in high-tech agriculture and human resources training," said the Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee.

Thanh also praised the relationship between the two countries, which he said has grown significantly in recent years. He wished Ambassador Deirdre a great tenure in Vietnam and that her work would strengthen the two-way relationship to achieve more impressive results.

He said that based on the good relations between the two nations, Hanoi has established great friendships and partnerships with Irish localities.

In the past two years, two delegations of high-ranking officials from Hanoi have visited Ireland, Thanh said.

Hanoi officials visit UK, Ireland

After a week of intense activities, a delegation of high-ranking officials from Hanoi has concluded its business trip to the UK and Ireland from October 6-14.

Officials from Hanoi and Birmingham signed cooperation agreements. Photo: The Hanoi Times

The trip aimed to boost economic, trade, and tourism ties between the two nations as well as between Hanoi and the localities in Ireland.

On October 6 and 7, the Hanoi officials met with a number of Vietnamese groups and societies, including the Honorary Consulate of Vietnam in Dublin, overseas Vietnamese people and the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Ireland, as well as the Vietnamese Students' Association in Ireland.
The delegation also visited Trinity College Dublin and some historical and cultural relics, and attended a cultural exchange hosted by the Dublin-based Vietnamese Society.

On October 9, the delegation attended an event to promote local Vietnamese cultures in the UK. They also met with staff from the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK and the Overseas Vietnamese Society in London.

The next day, the Vietnamese officials met with Chaman Lal, Mayor of Birmingham City, and attended the Vietnam-West Midland Connection Conference, where the two sides signed several cooperation agreements.

Nguyen Hoang Long, Vietnamese ambassador to the UK and Northern Ireland, said the trip contributed to the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the UK.

He expected Hanoi to deepen its ties with  the UK and British cities in finance and banking, trade and commerce, information and technology, digital transformation, education and training, digital economy, and green energy transition.

Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front - Hanoi Chapter, Nguyen Lan Huong, said that Vietnam and Hanoi will remain the ideal destinations for international investors.

"Hanoi authorities will give full support to British businesses to set up and expand their operations in the city, especially in finance, high-tech and biotech, digital transformation, green industry, blockchain, tourism, cultural exchanges, and others," she said.

Birmingham Mayor Chaman Lal hoped that Hanoi and the British city will establish more cooperation programs, and that Birmingham will establish and maintain ties with other Vietnamese cities and provinces.

The mayor and Birmingham authorities welcomed the suggestions made by the Hanoi delegates, and promised to work with Hanoi agencies to implement the ideas soon.