VIETNAM: The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the Investment Promotion and International Cooperation Department under the Finance Ministry of Vietnam held a discussion on bilateral investment and trade promotion on Friday.

A Nepali delegation led by FNCCI President Chandra Dhakal informed Vietnamese officials that there was investment-friendly atmosphere in Nepal and they could convince and facilitate their businesspersons to invest in potential areas in Nepal.

“There are many areas having investment potentials in Nepal. I urge the Vietnamese industrialists to visit Nepal and learn more about the situation. FNCCI coordinates and extends collaboration to talk to the Nepali government,” President Dhakal said.

He made elaborate the investment areas like coffee, tea, handicraft, tourism, cable car, hydropower, information and technology, and trade.

Even the prospect of establishment of data centre is there in Nepal, Dhakal said, adding that both sides could work rigorously to delve deep into industrial and trade cooperation as Nepal was facing a trade deficit with Vietnam.

President Dhakal also extended invitations to the Department representatives and investors there to attend FNCCI convention being held coming March.

On the occasion, FNCCI Vice President Hemraj Dhakal also urged the Vietnamese investors to pay heed to Nepal, for there are huge potentials.

Another Vice President of FNCCI, Jyotshna Shretha, reminded that Nepal and Vietnam could reap benefits from the cooperation in automobiles and tourism. “Nepal is a birthplace of Gautam Buddha, which can be a religious destination to Buddhist people of Vietnam,” she mentioned.

Also speaking during the discussion were FNCCI Treasurer, Bharat Raj Acharya, Chair of Startup and Innovation Forum under FNCCI, Juna Mathema. Mathema said innovation is another frontier awaiting investment.

Chief of the Department of Investment Promotion and International Cooperation in Vietnam, Hoang Thanh Tam, said they were interested in strengthening relations with Nepal via economic diplomacy by garnering adequate information on investment potential, economic situation, and prospect of foreign direct investment.

She reminded that Vietnamese Vice President had visited Nepal last August and even a meeting was held between Vietnamese President and Nepali Prime Minister some months back in China. She also stressed the need for fostering relations between Vietnam and Nepal.

Chief Thanh Tam vowed readiness to facilitate Vietnamese businesspersons for investing in Nepal.