UK Minister without Portfolio and Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party Grant Shapps has voiced his support for ongoing negotiations of a free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the European Union to be signed in 2014.

At an April 16 reception in London for visiting Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh, Shapps expressed hope the two countries will strengthen cooperation in education and training, particularly human resource training.

The minister spoke highly of the efficient operation of the Vietnam-UK Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO) and said that UK businesses are keen to invest in Vietnam.

He proposed the Vietnamese Government facilitate UK investment and operation in the country, especially in architecture, construction, supply of education services and machinery manufacturing.

Shapps also proposed the two sides accelerate the HCM City Financial Centre project with the participation of Canary Wharf Group of the UK.

Both Ninh and Shapps agreed to put the Vietnam-UK University into operation as soon as possible, of which the first phase will be the Vietnam-UK Research Institute.

The same day, Deputy PM Ninh met with representatives from the top ten UK investment funds, including Genesis, Black Rock, Aberdeen, Ashmore, and Rogge.

UK executives shared experience in developing foreign currencies bond market and expressed their keen interest in Vietnam’s securities and bond markets, as well as policies in the field. They hope to receive support from the Vietnamese Government to operate in the long term in Vietnam.

Ninh briefed them on Vietnam’s effort to stabilise macro-economy, promote economic growth, and equitise State-owned enterprises.

He encouraged UK investors to boost their investment in Vietnam in the future.

VOV/VNN