New Zealand: Series of Exchanges and Meetings on Business Opportunity in Vietnam
From 30th October to 2nd November, 2007 in three big cities of New Zealand: Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), Export New Zealand, Auckland University of Technology (AUT) have cooperated with the Embassy of The Socialist Republic of Vietnam in New Zealand, Vietnam Trade Office in New Zealand and many other sponsors in hosting “New Zealand – New Thinking” Seminars with the topic of “Opportunity Vietnam”. About 300 New Zealand businessmen have participated in the Seminars (50 in Christchurch, 90 in Wellington and 160 in Auckland). They are mostly New Zealand entrepreneurs, who are doing business or intend to do business in Vietnam as well as in Asian region, especially the entrepreneurs operating in sectors of services and technology supply. Playing a role as one of Seminars’ main sponsors, Ambassador of Vietnam to New Zealand, H.E Mr. Vuong Hai Nam has given his welcome speech and encouraged activities within the Seminars.
The Seminars present a mix of speakers who have been doing business in Vietnam, including speakers from KPMG in Vietnam, HSBC, Highland Coffee, FIDECO, Brightwater Engineers Ltd, Duffill Watts & Tse Ltd, Augen Ltd and Mr. Peter Healy - General Consular of New Zealand in Vietnam. Speakers provided an overview of business environment, business rules, positive changes in economic reform and attracting environment for investment in Vietnam during the past few years, and shared development experiences and successes in finance and banking (HSBC), consultant services, joint venture etc. Among the speakers are the founder and CEO of Vietthai Joint Stock Company, a model of overseas Vietnamese businessman having achieved initial successes in building trademark and franchising for the product of Highland Coffee, CEO of FIDECO – Foreign Trade Development and Investment Joint Stock Company- who studied in New Zealand, and director of Augen Ltd, a Vietnamese origin New Zealander, director of a New Zealand IT enterprise which is investing and exploiting potentials of IT from Vietnam market.
One common message from New Zealand businessman is that there is a great deal of business and investment opportunities in Vietnam, presented by the potentials and prospects of large population, young labour forces, quick comprehension of foreign language, rather well labour skills as well as strong engagements in investment promotion by Vietnam leaders. This is a good opportunity to do business not only in Vietnam but also in South-East Asian countries. Opinions have it that with continuously improved legislation, stable political system, abundant labour forces and better management skills, Vietnam is now considered as a right choice of investors for the policy of“China plus 1”, in despite of language barrier, shortage of information update, poor infrastructure, unstable policy, corruption and sluggish administration system. Questions rose in the Seminars focused mainly on intellectual property rights, trademark, labour standard and development prospect of emerging fields such as IT, aquaculture and shipbuilding etc. Message sent to the Seminars by Vietnamese entrepreneurs that “It is time for New Zealand companies to exploit business opportunities in Vietnam and to share successes in such a dynamic country” satisfied all the listeners.
From the opinion of the participators, the wide range of New Zealand businessmen showing up at the Seminars do express their interests in Vietnam, an emerging and attracting market. The seminars also reflected the professionalism of New Zealand side in organizing trade promoting activities as well as their close co-cooperation with the Embassy of Vietnam in New Zealand in promoting and broadening trade and economic links between the two countries. In the first official state visit to New Zealand in September, 2007, Vietnam State President H.E Mr. Nguyen Minh Triet emphasized that “Vietnam and New Zealand have much in common, Vietnamese and New Zealanders are friendly, diligent with goodwill and these are essential elements for deepening and strengthening the relationship between the two countries”. The success of “Opportunity Vietnam” Seminars in three big cities of New Zealand is a small contribution in a great effort of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam in 2007- Year of Economic Diplomacy – as the guidance of H.E Mr. Pham Gia Khiem, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam./.

Vuong Hai Nam
Ambassador of Vietnam to New Zealand