8th Mekong – RoK Business Forum held

Bac Ninh delegation takes a photo with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and the RoK.

Attending the Forum were Member of Party Central Committee, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung; the RoK’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Tae-h, and more than 350 representatives of ministries, sectors, localities and business of Mekong and the RoK.

Representatives for Bac Ninh province were Mr. Vuong Quoc Tuan, Member of Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of Provincial People's Committee and leaders of relevant departments, branches and sectors.

Delivering the opening speech, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung emphasized achievements of Mekong-Korea cooperation and role of business community in promoting multifaceted cooperation between countries. Despite the economic downturn caused by the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Mekong countries and the RoK have managed to maintain trade activities at a similar level to last year, whilst continuing to be major trading partners for each other.

He affirmed that during the course of developing mutual ties, the economic sector has consistently played a key role in promoting regional economic integration, while boosting innovation, and enhancing the competitiveness of the various economies.

At the Forum, Ms. Park Cyn Young, Director for Regional Cooperation and Integration Division, Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department of the Asian Development Bank and Mr. Madhurjya Kumar Dutta, Director of Trade and Investment Facilitation Department, Mekong Institute presented opportunities and challenges for businesses, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the face of the world economic fluctuations due to impact of the Covid-19 pandemic; and pointed out solutions and policies to recover and promote economic growth to overcome the pandemic crisis.

As an annual activity within the framework of the Mekong-RoK cooperation, Mekong- RoK Business Forum is an opportunity to promote dialogue between government agencies and the community business, thereby strengthening business connection between the Mekong countries and the Republic of Korea.