Mauricio Macri in Vietnam: touristic walk, tribute to Ho Chi Minh and agreements to boost trade

President Mauricio Macri met today with the highest authorities in Vietnam and decided to move towards a "integrated badociation" between the two countries they hope to achieve with increased trade and investment.

The head of state had a silent meeting with the president Nguyen Phu Trong and later with the Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc"I expect great expectations to increase trade between the two countries and consolidate the market for products already in progress," he said before appointments.

At the enlarged meeting of the two delegations, it was announced the approval of a reciprocal exchange agreement in which Argentina will seek to incorporate products such as citrus, meat and cereals into the Vietnamese market. The President of the Asian country said that he would ask the corresponding agencies to approve the entry of oranges, grapefruit and mandarins in Argentina. In the meantime, the purchase of lemons has already been accepted.

Macri emphasized the interest of Argentine producers to export pork, embryos, sperm, equines and cattle on foot, fish oil, frozen beef, cherries, cranberries, tomato seeds, soy flour and milk powder.

"Vietnam needs more and more food and we want to help produce themMacri stressed the need for Vietnamese technology companies participate in the next call for tenders on communications.

In addition, he invited Nguyen to visit Argentina and, similarly, proposed that officials and entrepreneurs of this country know the Expoagro rural fairto be held next March. Thus, he stressed: "We would like you to see the progress of the machinery, agricultural technology and biotechnology for the animal and vegetable fields ".

For his part, Prime Minister Nguyen said that Argentina is a very important partner in America " and he stressed that his expectations are to continue to increase and diversify product exchanges between the two countries.

It was also evaluated at bilateral meetings the possibility for Argentina to approve the entry of Vietnamese household appliances, ceramics and seafood like other commercial options.

Vietnam is the fifth largest trading partner and the second largest market in Argentina in Asia. In this context, Macri will participate Thursday at the opening of the show. Business Forum in Argentina – Vietnam, which will involve about 50 national companies and a hundred Vietnamese companies to promote investment in both countries.

The Argentine president was delighted after the meeting with the Vietnamese authorities and said he was confidentCollaboration between our governments and the private sector is essential to promote exports and stimulate the growth of foreign direct investment in strategic sectors, particularly in the agri-food sector ".

Macri arrived in Hanoi with all his official delegation and some 80 Argentinian businessmen who also accompanied him to India. Before the meeting with the President and the Prime Minister, Macri pays tribute to Ho Chi Minh, leader of the Vietnamese socialist revolution, at a ceremony held on Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi.

Accompanied by Juliana Awada and the official delegation, Macri participated in a ceremony at the mausoleum where the embalmed remains of the Vietnamese leader rest. Ho Chi Minh died in September 1969 in a cave in Hanoi with tuberculosis, years before the end of the long war against the United States.

In Vietnam, the image of Minh is worshiped in different public places, buildings and also figure on the official banknotes, the dong.
In the afternoon, Macri will meet the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Vietnam, Thi Kim Ngan.

"We all aim to strengthen bilateral relations and increase the trade balance between our countries. The visit of President Macri is very important from a commercial and economic point of view in Vietnam"he stressed Infobae Ambbadador of Argentina to Vietnam Juan Valle Raleigh.

By 2018, 45 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries had been completed and, for the Argentine government, this small Asian country is very attractive because of the weight of its economy. 3% of total exports ($ 2.2 million) are destined for it and also represents the second largest trade surplus ($ 1.6 billion), after Chile.

Bilateral trade with Vietnam has increased tenfold over the last decade and reached $ 2.7 billion in 2018. In addition, Argentina supplies 11% of agro-industrial products that Vietnam imports. Of the Macri must promote the sale of agricultural machinery and food chain products that can contribute to the country. Vietnam is one of the most powerful countries in Southeast Asia and the "socially-oriented market economy" model gives very good results. The country has experienced an average growth of 6.5% over the last fifteen years, with a population of 94 million inhabitants spread over a territory that barely doubles the area of ​​Salta.

In addition to the formal responsibilities, Macri took the time to walk the streets of Hanoi. Accompanied by the secretary for modernization, Andrés Ibarra, the president sitting at a table located on the sidewalk of a local bar called Café Aha.

The president met with Argentine citizens who were in the Asian country and then received the company of his daughter Antonia and Valentina, daughter of Juliana Awada, to continue her walk.

The images of his visit to the Vietnamese bar were published in an Instagram account of the president himself.