S'pore, Vietnam To Expand Economic Cooperation

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah SINGAPORE, April 4 (Bernama) -- Singapore and Vietnam have agreed to expand the scope of economic cooperation at the 8th Vietnam-Singapore Connectivity Ministerial Meeting here Wednesday. The meeting, which focused on greater collaboration in the areas of modern services and commodities trading, was held here Wednesday and attended by Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang and Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh. Lim said there was scope for further collaboration as Vietnam’s economy continued to develop and grow. "Vietnam’s economy will continue to grow as it enhances its connectivity to the world," he said. He said Vietnam could leverage on the Singapore Mercantile Exchange (SMX) to develop and grow its commodity markets. Both ministers acknowledged that Singapore businesses could also participate actively in the growth of Vietnam’s agriculture and aquaculture industries. Bilateral trade rose 22 per cent year-on-year to reach S$15 billion in 2011. Singapore government agencies have been actively assisting Vietnam through a range of capacity-building programmes in areas such as finance, education, healthcare and transport. To-date, the Ministry of Transport has conducted aviation training courses for 182 Vietnamese officials. The Ministry of Education has also facilitated in an English language training programme for 300 Vietnamese teachers. -- BERNAMA