Hanoi (VNA) - Representatives of Vietnamese and Omani enterprises met inHanoi on April 22 to discuss ways to further promote business and trade ties betweenthe two countries.

Co-hostedby the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Omani Embassy inVietnam, the get-together formed part of a series of activities held from April21-25 as representatives of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI)and 12 Omani companies are paying a working visit to Vietnam.

TheOmani firms are seeking local cooperation and business partners in a range of fields,including construction, trade, interior decoration, aquaculture, organic fertilizer,construction materials, foodstuff, tourism, oil and gas services and electricequipment.

VCCIVice Chairman Doan Duy Khuong said over the past years, diplomatic, economicand commercial relations between the two nations have been improved. With apopulation of almost 100 million, Vietnam has advantages in exportinggarment-textiles, footwear, mobile phones, iron and steel, wood andagricultural products.

Meanwhile,the Middle East country has imported up to 60 percent of its food demand andthe figure is forecast to increase in the coming time, making itself apotential market for Vietnamese agricultural products, he said.

Khuongcited statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs as saying that two-waytrade remained modest, reaching only 120.8 million USD in 2018, up 3.4 percent fromthe previous year. Of the figure, Vietnam exported products worth 50.8 millionUSD to Oman, a year-on-year rise of 19.3 percent.

Hamadbin Said al Rubkhi, member of the OCCI Board of Directors and Head of the OCCIBranch in the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah, said that apart from such potentialsectors as oil and gas, tourism, fishing and aquaculture, Oman also hasstrengths in fine handicraft and hotel services.

Omanis a gateway for products to enter Arabian markets with many seaports, hence,it is necessary to further boost investment and trade ties between Oman andVietnam, he said.-VNA