Hanoi (VNA) - Foreign enterprises poured a considerable amount of capital intomanufacturing and processing projects in the first half of January, accordingto the head of the investment office at the Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority(Hepza), Tran Viet Ha.

Notable among them was a 34 million USD project sprawlingover 7ha at the Le Minh Xuan Industrial Park, operating in services andlogistics.

During the first days of 2021,authorities in southern Dong Nai province presented investment licences tothree foreign-invested enterprises working in support industries, two of which arelong-time South Korean suppliers to Samsung.

Canadian Consul General in HCM CityBehzad Babakhani told the Dau Tu (Investment) newspaper that when the Comprehensiveand Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) was signed in2019, two-way trade between Canada and Vietnam hit a record 6.15 billion USD thatyear.

Babakhani said Canadian exporters benefitfrom farm produce, fish, aquatic, and forestry product exports, while Vietnameseexporters see opportunities in manufacturing and processing, such aselectronics, leather and footwear, apparel, wooden furniture, farm produce, andaquatic products.

Vietnamese manufacturers have the chance,he said, to access Canada’s expertise in the fields of genetics, biotechnology,the environment, green technology, and sustainability, which could propel its agriculturesector restructuring.

He said that many Canadian companiesare pursuing trade opportunities in Vietnam in the fields of clean technology,information and communications technology, aerospace, infrastructure, healthcareproducts, wooden furniture, and financial services.

Vietnam is an important partner ofCanada, which is pursuing diversified trade to the Asia-Pacific region, hesaid.

Vice Chairwoman of the AustralianChamber of Commerce in Vietnam, Chau Ta, said Australian capital flows to Vietnamwill increase strongly now the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)has been signed, given that the agreement will create an attractive investmentenvironment in Vietnam and focus on job creation, local renovation, andintegration into the global supply chain.

Australian companies are likely toincrease investment in fields where Vietnam holds a competitive edge, and tapits trade ecosystem, such as the export of raw materials, manufacturing, andservices.

She suggested they invest in fields thatsaw strong development in Vietnam after the pandemic, such as informationtechnology, healthcare, and e-commerce./.