Top leader attends Viet Nam-New Zealand business roundtable in Auckland

The event brought together New Zealand's Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay, leaders of ministries and sectors, and a large number of businesses from both countries.

Addressing the meeting, To expressed his impression at the open and substantive exchanges by the business communities of the two countries.

He called on the two sides' business communities to upgrade cooperation in agriculture and food along green value chains.

The two sides should promote projects in smart agriculture and biotechnology, deep processing, cold-chain logistics, traceability and brand building, while joining hands in removing barriers related to standards, quarantine requirements and market access, said To Lam, adding that goal is not only to increase trade turnover, but also to build greener, more transparent and sustainable supply chains with greater resilience.

To suggested New Zealand's businesses to view Viet Nam not only as a market, but also as a partner for research, product development, manufacturing and innovation in Southeast Asia.

Viet Nam stands ready to serve as a gateway for New Zealander businesses to expand investment into ASEAN, while New Zealand can also become a bridge for Vietnamese businesses to participate more deeply in high-quality value chains across the Pacific region, he noted.

Viet Nam is committed to improving its investment environment towards a stable, transparent and competitive manner, in line with international standards, while creating favorable conditions for New Zealander businesses to make long-term and effective investments, particularly in high-tech agriculture, food industry, education, science, technology, innovation and green economy, To said.

The success of Viet Nam-New Zealand economic cooperation will not be measured solely by trade turnover or the number of projects, but by the quality of connectivity, technological content, the level of participation in new value chains, and the tangible benefits delivered to businesses and people in both countries, underlined the top Vietnamese leader.

Meanwhile, Minister McClay regards Viet Nam as one of New Zealand’s important partners in Southeast Asia, with a fast-growing economy, a market of more than 100 million people, a young workforce, and deep integration into global trade. 

According to McClay, alongside traditional areas such as agricultural products and food, the two countries have considerable room for cooperation in high-tech agriculture, medical technology, education, research, and skills development. 

The next phase of New Zealand–Viet Nam economic relations will be increasingly driven by knowledge, technology, and innovation, he said, adding that New Zealand wishes to become a trusted partner of Viet Nam in the process of modernizing its economy, enhancing productivity, and promoting sustainable development./.