Leaders of Nghe An province visited and worked with the Embassy of Vietnam in the Republic of Austria

The delegation included leaders of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board, the Department of Industry and Trade, the Department of Planning and Investment, the Provincial People's Committee Office and representatives of a number of enterprises of Nghe An province.

Welcoming the delegation was comrade Nguyen Trung Kien - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Republic of Austria.

At the meeting, comrade Le Hong Vinh informed the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Republic of Austria about the socio-economic achievements of Nghe An province in recent times as well as the cooperation situation between Nghe An and the Republic of Austria.

Accordingly, in the past time, despite the adverse impacts due to the rapid, complicated and unpredictable developments in the world's political, security and economic situation, the province has strived to overcome and achieved quite comprehensive results in all fields. The scale of the economy currently ranks 10th nationwide. Economic growth in 2022 reached 9.08%, ranking 22nd in the country; in the first 6 months of 2023, the province's economic growth reached 5.79%.

Total budget revenue in 2022 is estimated at VND 21,805 billion (equivalent to nearly USD 919 million); in the first 6 months of 2023, it is estimated to reach VND 8,489.4 billion (equivalent to nearly USD 358 million).

In 2022, FDI attraction will reach nearly 1 billion USD, ranking in the top 10 nationwide. In the first 6 months of 2023, Nghe An province's FDI attraction continues to be a bright spot, currently ranking 8th out of 63 localities nationwide.

Nghe An always attaches importance to development cooperation with partners from Europe, including the Republic of Austria. However, up to now, Nghe An province has not had any Austrian enterprises investing in Nghe An.

Regarding exports, in 2022, Nghe An's total export turnover to Austria reached 130,827 USD. The main items are machinery, equipment, tools, and other spare parts. In the first 8 months of 2023, Nghe An's total export turnover to Austria is estimated at 642,613 USD, the main items include various types of steel (634,363 USD), and superfine white limestone powder (8.2 thousand USD).

Regarding imports, the total import turnover in 2022 reached 3,083 million USD with the following items: machinery, equipment, tools, other spare parts (3 million USD), chemicals (50 thousand USD). In the first 8 months of 2023, the total import turnover is estimated at 580 thousand USD, of which, machinery, equipment, tools, other spare parts (575 thousand USD), electronic equipment and components (94.7 thousand USD).

The Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee hopes that in the coming time, the Vietnamese Embassy in the Republic of Austria will continue to pay attention to, support and promote investment cooperation between Nghe An province and the Republic of Austria in areas such as supporting industries for automobile production, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals; cooperation in trade, science and technology, education and culture.

Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Republic of Austria Nguyen Trung Kien acknowledged the achievements in economic and social development of Nghe An province and emphasized that the Vietnam-Austria relationship is in a good development stage. Austria considers Vietnam an important partner in implementing its foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in trade and investment, and wishes to consolidate and further promote the relationship between the two countries in economics, education and culture. The Vietnamese Embassy in the Republic of Austria pledged to support the province in connecting with Austrian investors, especially in areas where Nghe An has advantages, and at the same time, connecting in trade, service, science and technology, education and culture cooperation.