Kolkata to get a dedicated Vietnam desk to promote trade and commerce between Bengal and Vietnam-OxBig News Network

Kolkata 

Officials from Vietnam and Bharat Chamber of Commerce have decided to start a dedicated Vietnam desk at Kolkata to enhance trade and commerce between the State and the neighbouring country. Officials from Vietnam say that the strategic position of Kolkata and direct water trade routes between Kolkata and Vietnam can be a major boost for trade. 

At an exclusive session on “India and Vietnam: Current and Future Perspectives on Trade and Investment” organised by the Bharat Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata, N. G. Khaitan, Immediate Past President, Bharat Chamber of Commerce and Naresh Pachisia, President of BCC insisted on the need for a dedicated Vietnam desk in Kolkata to help with trade. 

Nguyen Thanh Hai, Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to India agreed to his query and said that a dedicated desk in Kolkata can be undertaken in the upcoming days. 

“We will send more delegations to India to explore further business opportunities. VinFast [automobile company from Vietnam] has already started a $500 million EV plant in Tamil Nadu, we plan to expand more businesses across India to improve our bilateral relations and improve trade between the two nations,” Mr Nguyen Thanh Hai said. 

He added that the direct shipping route between Kolkata and Vietnam is a matter of strategic advantage for better trade between the two places.  

He also reminisced about Bengal’s historic connect with Vietnam during the time of their war and how the government and people during that era had supported their cause. 

“The high-level trust between the two countries and political cooperation between us, this has great opportunity for trade and tourism,” Mr Nguyen Thanh Hai said. 

Mr Pachisia noted that the two-way trade surged 4.5% to $15 billion in 2024. While, Vietnam’s exports to India rose 7.6% to $9.06 billion, India’s exports to Vietnam stood at $5.8 billion. 

They also called for improvement in trade in sectors like agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles (silk in particular), renewable energy and electronics because according to businessmen these trades offer immense scope for enhanced cooperation. 

“If we have a dedicated desk here then we (BCC) can act as catalysts and a bridge between the two places. We get a lot of queries, but most traders are clueless about the trade opportunities because there is no proper channel, the desk can help resolve the issue. We can connect with Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and other trade bodies to explore opportunities,” Mr Khaitan told The Hindu.