Slovakia is willing to cooperate with and assist Vietnam in developing its energy industry, Slovakian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajcak said at the Vietnam-Slovakia Business Forum in Ho Chi Minh City on November 5.

The Slovakian guest highlighted Vietnam ’s great potential for developing its energy industry. He praised the country for its visionary energy development strategy, which orients the sector in the right direction, aiming to build Vietnam ’s first nuclear power plant by 2030 in addition to existing hydropower and thermal power facilities.

Deputy PM Miroslav Lajcak noted that Slovakia ’s energy security strategy intended to provide a reasonable electricity price for consumers, ensure the sector’s export orientation, and make Slovakia an energy transit country in Europe. He also said Slovakia ’s energy mainly came from atomic energy plants, compressed natural gas, and renewable energy sources. The Slovakian Deputy PM said economic development should go in hand with energy efficiency, noting that the cooperation between Vietnam and Slovakia should go in this direction.

The forum, co-organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Slovakian Embassy in Vietnam , also discussed bilateral cooperation opportunities in a number of other fields, such as healthcare, the environment, trade and commerce.

According to VCCI, two-way trade exceeded 400 million USD in 2013, an increase of 35 percent compared to the previous year. During the first eight months of this year, bilateral trade totalled 281 million USD, including 262 million USD in exports to Slovakia . Slovakia is currently operating five investment projects worth 235 million USD in Vietnam .

Earlier that day, the Slovakian Deputy PM held a working session with FPT Software in HCM City ’s High-Tech Park . He said that FPT’s purchase of Slovakian RWE IT in June this year was a fine example of the close cooperation between the two countries.

Ho Chi Minh City pushes for stronger economic links with Slovakia

A Ho Chi Minh City leader expressed his hope that the city and Slovakia would boost their partnership in areas of mutual interest, especially the economy, trade and investment.

Ho Chi Minh City is working hard to establish twin relationship with Slovakia ’s capital Brastislava, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan said during a meeting with Slovakian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajcak in the city on November 5.

Noting that the bilateral ties between the two countries, as well as the city and Slovakia, have been growing in recent years, especially in economic terms, he asserted that the cooperation potential between the two sides is great.

Trade between the city and Slovakia reached 85 million USD during the first nine months of this year, he said, adding that Ho Chi Minh City granted an investment licence to a Slovakia-funded project investing 100 million USD.

On his part, Miroslav Lajcak said he was impressed by the dynamic development of Ho Chi Minh City, adding that his visit aimed to foster the bilateral partnership in a number of fields, including the economy, culture, education and people-to-people exchanges.

Reiterating the traditional and long-lasting friendship and cooperation between Slovakia and Vietnam in almost 65 years, he attested that the economic affiliation between the two countries was yet to meet its full potential and the demands of both sides.

He said Slovakia was keen to beef up its economic partnership with Ho Chi Minh City, calling for the city’s investors to invest in his country, pledging to provide favourable conditions.

At the same time, he asked for continued support for Slovakian investors in the city.

Later that day, Miroslav Lajcak visited the Slovakian Consulate General in the city and met with representatives of the Ho Chi Minh City chapter of the Vietnam-Slovakia Friendship Association.