Minister Nguyen Hong Dien (R) and Mr. Sandeep Arya, Indian Ambassador to Vietnam  (Photo: Ministry of Industry and Trade)

At the meeting with Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Sandeep Arya in Hanoi on Tuesday, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said that the two countries need to organize activities to connect businesses on trade and investment cooperation, diversify the supply chain of raw materials, especially in textiles and accessories, leather and footwear, pharmaceuticals from India, and agricultural and aquatic from Vietnam.

Dien asked that India speed up opening its market to Vietnamese farm produce and fresh fruits. He asked for Mr. Arya’s support in hastening the import licencing process for Vietnamese fruits, initially longan, pomelo, rambutan and durian, and then for others, such as avocado, coconut, watermelon and strawberry.

Ambassador Arya said Vietnam is India’s most important trade partner within ASEAN and the Vietnamese and Indian economies complement each other. Vietnam is also India’s important partner within the Indo-Pacific Vision and Act East Policy. Arya spoke highly of economic cooperation potential between the two countries, especially in renewable energy, oil and gas, information technology, the digital economy, and pharmaceuticals, which will lead to abundant collaboration opportunities.