Vietnam seeks stronger cooperation with Kaluga Oblast

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi paid a working visit to Kaluga Oblast on August 17.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi paid a working visit to Kaluga Oblast on August 17. (Photo:VNA)
Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi paid a working visit to Kaluga Oblast on August 17. (Photo:VNA)

Addressing the meeting, Kaluga Governor Vladislav Shapsha shared that the province's economic relations with Vietnam have developed strongly in recent years.

In 2020, Bilateral trade topped US$ 315 million, rising 10-fold in three years, and Vietnam currently ranks fifth among the foreign trade partners of Kaluga, he noted, adding that local businesses are interested in expanding partnerships with the Southeast Asian nation.

Voicing his delight at the flourishing relations between Kaluga and Vietnam, Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi emphasised that the oblast holds great significance in developing cooperation between the two countries.

He said Kaluga is one of the first Russian localities he has visited, and that he is impressed with the huge economic, industrial, investment, and science and technology potential, as well as other strengths of the oblast.

However, he pointed out that trade and economic links between the two nations have yet to match their potential.

The ambassador highly valued Kaluga’s incentives and support for investors, including TH True Milk of Vietnam, which is making efforts to complete its project there soon.

Suggesting cooperation priorities for the coming time, Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi said that if the existing rail route between Kaluga and China is optimised and connected with Vietnam, trade between Vietnam and Russia may double to reach US$10 billion per year in the near future.

A private business owning an airline in Vietnam is showing interest in setting up a logistics centre in Russia. As Kaluga is close to Moscow, this enterprise could join in the construction of an airport in the oblast, thus helping facilitate travel between the two countries, according to the diplomat.

He also asked Kaluga, in its capacity, to assist Vietnam with COVID-19 treatment drugs and medical equipment.

For his part, Shapsha spoke highly of the ambassador's proposals, affirming his readiness to have in-depth discussions about travel promotion as Vietnam is a favourite destination of Russians.

He also pledged to discuss support for and cooperation with Vietnam in the pandemic fight with local relevant agencies.

Visiting Vorsino Industry Park in Kaluga, Khoi met with Deputy Governor Vladimir Potemkin and Director of the Agency for Regional Development of Kaluga Nikolay Andreev, recommending stronger labour cooperation as the oblast boosts the development of industrial parks.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi also held a meeting with Mayor of Obninsk City Tatiana Leonova. (Photo:VNA)

As part of the trip, the ambassador also held a meeting with Mayor of Obninsk City Tatiana Leonova. The Ambassador expressed his pleasure that Vietnamese students have the opportunity to acquire valuable knowledge and study in Obninsk - one of the major science and technology cities of Russia.

The Ambassador hopes that the city will continue to create conditions to train human resources in nuclear majors, thus contributing to the development of Vietnam. Nuclear cooperation is still very important in the health sector, agriculture and many other sectors, he said.