The Hindu Business Line : Vietnam seeks Indian expertise in tea, pepper cultivation

VIETNAM has sought Indian expertise for cultivation of tea, cashew nuts and pepper in that country. It has also sought Indian investment in select sectors of the Vietnamese economy.

Addressing members of Bengal National Chamber of Commerce & Industry here today, Mr Tran Duc Minh, Vice-Minister of Trade, Vietnam Ministry of Commerce, said the land in Vietnam was ideally suited for tea, cashew nuts and pepper cultivation. Indian expertise in terms of technical inputs would go a long way in harnessing the potential in this regard, he said.

Mr Minh urged Indian investors to invest in select sectors of Vietnam's economy such as the automotive sector, non-conventional energy and pharmaceuticals.

According to him, the absence of direct air connectivity between India and Vietnam was a factor that was impacting bilateral trade between the two countries. He said a study had been initiated to find out the feasibility of direct air connectivity between India and Vietnam.

He said the study would take into account the likely volume of passenger and cargo traffic on the India-Vietnam sector. According to statistics of the Union Ministry of Commerce, Indian exports to Vietnam were valued at Rs 2,390 crore in 2004-05. In the same year, imports from Vietnam stood at Rs 365 crore.