Seminar on Vietnam-US Business Ties Held in Hanoi

Ha Noi, July 22 (VNA) -- Vietnamese and American business people acknowledged their governments and trade organizations' efforts to improve the business and investment environment at a seminar in Ha Noi today (July 22).

Present at the seminar were Hoang Van Dzung, Deputy General Secretary of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), US Ambassador to Vietnam Pete Peterson, and business people of the two countries.

The participants exchanged information on trade and investment operations over the past time, especially in recent years.

They proposed that the two governments devise concrete steps to remove obstacles regarding taxation and investment modes to boost two-way trade turnover and strengthen mutual understanding.

They also stressed the importance of negotiations towards the earliest signing of the Vietnam-US trade agreement, thus bringing bilateral trade ties to a new height of development.

Vietnam-US import and export value rose to USD 935 million last year from USD 450 million in 1995 and USD 225 million in 1994.

Meanwhile, Vietnam's exports to the US jumped to USD 469 million last year from USD 388 million in 1995 and USD 90 million in 1994.

The US now ranks ninth among foreign investors in Vietnam with more than 500 companies involved in 92 projects worth USD 1.18 billion.