The meeting was held after the freshly concluded fifth round of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between Vietnam and the Customs Union (Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan).

Delegates agreed Kazakhstan is a large country with an exponential potential for economic expansion.

The meeting garnered great interest of the business communities from both sides, as it provides an opportune occasion to lay the groundwork for future bilateral trade and investment after the FTA is signed. 

Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang briefed Kazakhstan businesses on Vietnam’s socio-economic development and policies to promote cooperative relations with international friends in many fields, particularly economics and trade.

Hoang extended an open invitation to citizens of Kazakhstan and international trading partners to come and visit Vietnam, either on holiday or to do business.

Many Vietnamese people speak the Russian language and this is an effective tool for people-to-people exchange, Hoang said.

Anhia, a representative from a travel agency which often conducts tours of Vietnam, spoke of the great potential for bilateral cooperation, especially once the FTA is signed.

A Kazakhstan businessman who imports tea from many countries throughout the world said Vietnamese tea is delicious and inexpensive, but, there is no tea quite meeting the Kazakhstan taste.

He said he believes the problem can be ameliorated through dialogues and business exchanges, and hopes Vietnamese tea thrives in the marketplace of Kazakhstan subsequent to the signing of the FTA.

Phan Van Tuan, President of Lya Group and President of the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Kazakhstan said he is also desirous of successful negotiations on the FTA and believes Vietnamese products will be tremendously successful in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan businesses which attended the meeting are laying the first bricks to build a solid foundation for future bilateral economic and trade ties.