At the reception, Mr. Phong highly apprecated Ambassador Catharina’s contributions to Vietnam-The Netherlands friendship relations presented by high-profile visits of both countries’ leaders, exhange activities and cooperatio programs.

He expressed his hope that Mrs. Catharina contines to play the role of linking bridge for Dutch businesses to invest in HCMC, saying the city always create the most favorable conditions for Dutch investors.

He noted that in 2014-2017, two way trade between Vietnam and Netherlands doubled. In 2017 alone, two way trade reached US$ 7.7 billion. The Netherlands is now one of the leading investors in Vietnam and HCMC.

For her part, Ambassador Catharina thanked Vietnam’s and HCMC’s leaders for their support and cooperation during her term in Vietnam. She highly value bilateral trade relations between both countries, especially Dutch investent projects in the city. Dutch investors have expertise and strengths in fields of environment, climate change, green growth, energy, clean water, etc. She expressed her hope that HCMC & the Netherland in particular and Vietnam – the Netherland in general will further strengthen cooperation towards sustainable development in fields of smart city, water treatment, flooding, etc.

She affirmed that after ending of her tour of duty in Vietnam, she will always support and further promote Vietnam-the Netherlands cooperation relation, including HCMC & the Netherlands relations.

HCM CITYWEB