US Embassy delegation explores potential to promote cooperation with Nghe An

Nghe An provincial leaders work with the delegation of the US Embassy in Vietnam. Photo: TG

On the afternoon of November 26, the delegation of the US Embassy in Vietnam had a working session with the provincial leaders. Comrade Le Ngoc Hoa - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired the meeting. Also attending were representatives of leaders of provincial departments and branches.

At the working session, after quickly informing the working delegation about the natural conditions and socio-economic situation of Nghe An province in recent times, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa emphasized some outstanding features in the cooperative relationship with the United States.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa spoke at the meeting. Photo: TG

Accordingly, in Nghe An province, there are currently 2 US FDI projects with a total registered capital of 7.5 million USD, in the fields of garment and animal feed production. In terms of trade, the export turnover with the US in 2020 was about 85 million USD, mainly rice, paving stones, textiles, handicrafts, etc. The import turnover was about 7 million USD, mainly textile and garment raw materials, footwear, machinery and equipment, plastic beads, etc.

The leaders of Nghe An province also reviewed a number of practical and effective projects that the United States has provided aid to the locality, such as: the US Pacific Command sponsored the construction of Ky Son primary school, Tan Ky district in 2009, the two sides successfully coordinated to implement the "Pacific Angel" and "Pacific Partnership" programs in 2012, the construction of commune health stations and disaster prevention centers in Hung Nguyen...

Representatives of provincial departments and branches attended the meeting. Photo: TG

Possessing advantages in infrastructure, an international airport, a deep-water port, and an abundant young workforce, Nghe An hopes to have the opportunity to attract more investment from US businesses to build factories in the semiconductor sector. In addition, from the positive results in implementing humanitarian projects, for example, the coordination of searching for Americans missing in action in the war in the province, comrade Le Ngoc Hoa hopes that this will be a link of affection between Nghe An and US agencies and organizations, a premise to call for and implement investment projects in Thanh Chuong - where excavation activities are being carried out in the project to search for missing persons (MIA).

In response to the delegation's attention, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa gave an example of the prospects of investing in projects to grow and extract medicinal herbs such as mint, lemongrass, basil, lemon eucalyptus... in Thanh Chuong, or projects to build medical stations and disaster prevention centers in Thanh Yen, Ngoc Son, Thanh Huong, Thanh Thinh communes, Thanh Chuong district, bringing benefits to local people.

Regarding the prospect of educational cooperation, Nghe An province proposed that the US Embassy act as an intermediary connecting with major universities such as Harvard, Fulbright, etc. to open training branches of these institutions in Nghe An; helping the young generation of Nghe An access US training institutions, improving the quality of human resources. The province also hopes to receive support from the US in the field of innovative startups, in order to promote the great potential of Nghe An people with the qualities of diligence, intelligence, and studiousness, but possessing limited resources...

Mr. Thomas Stevenson - Colonel, Defense Attaché, US Embassy highly appreciated Nghe An province's environmental protection stance. Photo: TG

Representing the working delegation, Mr. Thomas Stevenson - Colonel, Defense Attaché of the US Embassy in Vietnam highly appreciated the viewpoint of sustainable economic development in parallel with environmental protection of Nghe An province, in line with the current trend when international investors always look for a responsible investment environment, not only bringing economic benefits but also creating value for the community.

Affirming respect for Vietnam's political system, the representative of the US Embassy expressed support for the idea of ​​connecting Nghe An province with the US Chamber of Commerce, the US-ASEAN Trade Investment Council, etc. Also mentioning humanitarian projects such as searching for missing Americans, building medical stations, etc., the US side said that the success of these projects is the basis for building trust between the two sides, thereby expanding the scale and areas of cooperation, including the investment aspect.

Members of the US Embassy also expressed interest and concern in learning about the potential for developing clean energy projects, responding to climate change, and the ability to connect East - West, and the gateway to Southeast Asia of Nghe An province...

The two sides exchanged souvenirs and expressed their hopes for opportunities to strengthen trust and expand cooperation in the coming time between the US and Nghe An province. Photo: TG