New York (VNA) – Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc chaired a seminar on investment attraction to Vietnam in thecontext of the Fourth Industrial Revolution with more than 40 leadingbusinesses of the US in New York city on September 27.

The event, part of  the PM’s trip to attendthe high-level General Debate of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly,attracted US businesses operating in such fields as information technology,telecommunications, retail, logistics, food, beverage, energy and construction.It was held by the Business Council for International Understanding and the FPTCompany of Vietnam.

Addressing the seminar, PM Phuc expressed hiswish to listen to US businesses’ aspirations and comments on the investmentenvironment in Vietnam and showed his readiness to answer their questions so asto help facilitate the US’s projects and business cooperation programmes in thecountry.

Highlighting the huge potential of theVietnamese stock market – one of the world’s fastest growing markets, he askedUS investors and enterprises to point out problems that need support and morefavourable conditions from the Vietnamese Government to be addressed.

He also voiced his delight that US investorswant to expand investment and business activities in Vietnam, adding hisGovernment always welcomes foreign businesses and investors to the country totap into local technological and labour advantages.

PM Phuc also asked them to suggest solutions toshortcomings in Vietnam’s investment and business climate, as well as ideas tohelp boost local development in all spheres, including agriculture, health careand education, in the Industry 4.0 era.

With a stable macro-economy and low inflation,Vietnam’s economy may expand by 7 percent in 2018, he said, adding that therehave been 24,000 foreign invested projects worth over 350 billion USD in theSoutheast Asian nation.

Calling on US firms to promote investment inVietnam, the PM also asked them to recommend ways to help the countrycapitalise on Industry 4.0, particularly in dealing with risks of job losses orlagging behind.

At the seminar, US investors showed their optimism about investment andbusiness opportunities andprospects in Vietnam, with many firms having been present in the country fordecades.

Especially, they said they believe in Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s drasticefforts to improve the business and investment climate, and boost infrastructuredevelopment and digital economy in Vietnam.

Bernerd Da Santos, Vice President and CEO of AES Corporation, one of the 200energy firms with the largest revenue on the globe, said his corporation wishesto participate in Vietnam’s socio-economic development.

Introducing the company’s 10-year investment process in the field ofelectricity in Vietnam with a total investment of 2 billion USD, Bernerd DaSantos said there are numerous opportunities for US companies to invest inVietnam in renewable energy, gas and liquified petroleum gas.

He also spoke highly of Vietnam’s development achievements over the past 30years, saying that they have been made thanks to the economic reform effortsand determination of the country.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the Vietnamese Government have always paidattention to stepping up IT application and innovation, he added.

A representative from GE Global, one of the leading US and world groups inaviation and mechanical engineering, expressed wish that the VietnameseGovernment will direct relevant agencies to speed up the making of decisivepolicies toward creating more favourable conditions for investors.

Meanwhile, a representative from Medlife Insurance Group, said that the groupwants the Vietnamese Government to continue accelerating the reform ofState-owned enterprises, especially in terms of finance and banking, and givemore chances for foreign investors to engage in business cooperation activities.

Some other groups expressed their interests in e-government and improvement ofimport-export goods customs clearance.

Concluding the event, PM Phuc highlighted the Vietnam-US comprehensivecooperation, firstly in economy and trade, with priority given to technology.He affirmed that Vietnam always rolls out red carpet for investors and will doits utmost to help them succeed in the country.-VNA