Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh presented a souvenir to the Italian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City

At the meeting, Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh expressed his pleasure at the good developments in the Viet Nam-Italy strategic partnership, especially, economic and trade cooperation, education and training, and cultural exchange activities between Da Nang and Italy which had achieved many positive results. 

In 2019, export turnover to Italy was estimated at 4.6 million USD, import turnover from Italy was estimated at 4.1 million USD. Main export products are textiles, aquatic products, fishing rods, and handicrafts. Main import products are medicine, electrical equipment, spare parts, and garment materials. Currently, there are about 15 companies with trade and import-export relations with the Italian market and 6 Italian investment projects in the field of manufacturing, processing, and services with a total capital of 1,200,250 USD.

On behalf of the city leader, Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh expressed his belief that in his position, Consul General Dante Brandi would actively promote Viet Nam-Italy relations, including relations with Da Nang, especially in the fields of education, cultural exchange, commercial tourism, etc. At the same time, he proposed to the Consul General to support the city to connect Italian investors and businesses in the field of high technology industry, environmentally friendly, high quality services, etc. These are some of the strengths of Italy and Da Nang City in demand in the coming years. 

Currently, Da Nang has not had any official cooperation relationship with any Italian localities; therefore, Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh asked the Consul General to introduce some localities of Italy with similar development characteristics and orientations for Da Nang to establish friendly and cooperative relations, firstly in the field of personnel exchange to improve the capacity of cadres on urban and environmental management.

Mr. Dante Brandi, Consul General of Italy Republic expressed his impression of the dynamic development of Da Nang; at the same time, he affirmed his desire to promote cooperation with Da Nang City in areas where Italy had strengths such as tourism, culture, education, building smart cities, etc.

Appreciating the opinions of the city leaders, Mr. Dante Brandi supported the establishment of official cooperation between Da Nang and the localities of Italy, establishing direct flights, etc. to enhance  cooperation and tourism and trade development between the two countries in general, and Da Nang in particular, in the trend of increasing Vietnamese tourists to Europe, at the same time, promoting Italian language teaching programs at Da Nang University of Foreign Languages, organizing sports car exhibitions, calling Italian businesses to invest in business and expand operations in Da Nang in the coming time.

CONG TAM