Prague (VNA) – Czech experts have shared their views that the EU-Vietnam FreeTrade Agreement (EVFTA) will bring about great opportunities for Vietnam andthe Czech Republic to expand their economic and trade ties.

LucieVondrackova, Director of the Department of Trade Policy and InternationalEconomic Organisations under the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade, theremoval of over 99 percent of tariff on goods from Vietnam and the EU after theEVFTA comes into force will facilitate the Czech Republic’s export ofgarments-textiles, glass, auto, mechanics, electronic techniques, food andchemicals.

Besides,the agreement will help Czech businesses ensure product origin and access themarket in the sphere of services, especially those regarding tourism, finance,environment and electricity and fuel distribution, she added.

Thedeal not only covers economic issues but also opens up a new chapter ofsustainable development, with high standards set for environmental protectionand rights of laborers and consumers.

Inthis regard, she lauded Vietnam’s efforts in fighting illegal, unreported andunregulated (IUU) fishing to fulfil environmental protection standards.

Vondrackovastressed that the signing of the EVFTA will materialise the EU’s prioritypolicy of accessing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) marketas the ten-member group is the EU’s third largest trade partner.

 Of note, she said, the EVFTA has been seen asa model of a FTA signed between the EU and a developing country, and would bean example for FTA negotiations between the EU and other ASEAN member countrieslike Indonesia.

BorivojMinar, Vice President of the Czech Chamber of Commerce, said Vietnam and theCzech Republic have favourable conditions to enhance their economic and tradelinks in the context that the EVFTA will be signed, approved and put intoplace.

Thedeal will help to boost trade growth between Vietnam and the EU and the CzechRepublic in particular, he said, emphasising that the Czech Republic hasstrength and stands ready to cooperate with Vietnam in machine manufacturing,mining, food and agriculture produce processing, and beer production.

Meanwhile,Jan Petr Roman from the Czech Ministry of Agriculture said the EVFTA willenable Vietnam and the Czech Republic and the EU in general to access themarket of each other effectively, improve institutions and increase tradeflows, covering the fields of agriculture and food.

Thiswould positively affect the Vietnam-Czech relationship, he said, noting thatduring Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to the Czech Republic lastApril, Czech leaders showed their support for the early signing andratification of the EVFTA and the EU-Vietnam Investment Promotion Agreement(EVIPA).-VNA