Saudi Arabia’s biggest ever trade delegation and mission to explore Vietnam market: Ambassador
WVR - Saudi Ambassador to Vietnam Mohammed Ismaeil A. Dahlwy shared with the World and Vietnam Report the goals and agenda of the biggest ever trade delegation to Vietnam from September 11-13. The following is the full text of the interview.
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| Saudi Ambassador to Vietnam Mohammed Ismaeil A. Dahlwy in the interview with The World and Vietnam Report. (Photo: Thu Thanh) |
As far as we know, the trade delegation from Saudi Arabia has nearly 100 delegates including representatives of ministries, key economic sectors and businesses in different fields who will come to explore the Vietnamese market. Could you please introduce more specifically about this delegation, the significance of the visit and the main activities of the delegation in Vietnam?
First of all, I want to thank The World and Vietnam Report for this interview. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my best congratulations to the leaders and people of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day, wishing the Vietnamese leadership and people further progress and prosperity.
I would like also to extend my gratitude to the Vietnamese government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the great support to make this visit happen.
The Saudi trade delegation is considered one of the largest Saudi trade delegations, and it includes representatives from different sectors, mining sector, the retail sector, the textiles and services sector, and a number of representatives of governmental and semi-governmental agencies in the Kingdom.
The visit of this delegation builds on the great momentum that's existed currently in the bilateral relations between the two countries. The volume of trade between the two countries has reached 2.7 billion USD in 2022. There is also a very productive coordination and cooperation between the two countries both bilaterally and multilaterally.
Saudi Arabia was the fastest growing G20 economy in 2022, with overall growth reached 8.7 percent. Likewise, Vietnam, for the first time, recorded a GDP of more than 400 billion USD, and continues to be among the top five largest economies in Southeast Asia.
I am very confident that such an important visit will contribute to increasing trade exchange between the two countries and expanding the horizons of cooperation between the two countries.
It is planned that the delegation will meet with a number of important officials and leaders in the Vietnamese government, including officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a large number of Vietnamese companies and businessmen. They will also make a number of visits to a number of provinces and a number of large companies in Vietnam.
In your opinion, what potentials can Saudi businesses find in Vietnam in order to promote cooperation?
The Riyadh Chamber was established in 1961, and all chambers of commerce in the Kingdom play an important role in developing trade exchange between the Kingdom and other countries. They also contribute to advancing national development and contribute to achieving the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.
Within the framework of its Vision 2030, the Kingdom seeks to strengthen its partnerships and open up to global markets and investments.
Saudi Arabia has joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), and keen to develop its ties with the ASEAN countries, so the Kingdom plans soon and next October to host the first summit between the ASEAN countries and the Arab Gulf countries in Riyadh, which is an important and essential step that will pave the way for further cooperation and interconnection between the two groups, which play an important role regionally and internationally.
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| Saudi Ambassador to Vietnam Mohammed Ismaeil A. Dahlwy. (Photo: Thu Thanh) |
The volume of trade exchange between the Kingdom and Vietnam does not rise to the level of the close relations between the two countries. It also does not rise to the level of the great potential that the two countries have. I believe that there are many undiscovered opportunities between the two sides and such commercial visits will contribute directly to enhancing cooperation and will increase trade exchange between the two countries in the near term.
Vietnam has successed in attracting a large number of investments, both from the continent of Asia and from many countries around the world, in addition to political and security stability, and all of these factors are encouraging factors to consider the Vietnamese market as an attractive market and promising for Saudi companies and investors.
What is your assessment on the relationship between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia over the past time, especially on outstanding achievements in cooperation and how about the prospects of the bilateral relations? In your opinion, what should the two sides do to further promote bilateral relations in the coming time?
The truth is that relations between the two countries are witnessing great momentum. Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited in August 2022, and it was an important and positive visit. This was followed by the Kingdom hosting the first round of political consultations between the two countries, which produced important results that contributed to more coordination and cooperation between the two countries, and the volume of exchange increased.
I am currently focusing in my mission as my country's representative in Vietnam, in addition to enhancing trade and investment exchange between the two countries, on encouraging cultural and tourism exchange, and increasing popular relations between the two countries, and this is an area in which there are great opportunities that have not been discovered.
Both countries and peoples have a great history, and tourist and historical attractions. It is important, and I am interested to see more popular communication between the two countries, which contributes greatly to strengthening and expanding the base of cooperation between the two countries.
The good news is that I have recently begun to see many Saudis visiting Vietnam for the sake of tourism, and also a number of Vietnamese have begun to visit the Kingdom for the purpose of tourism and also for the purpose of watching the football competition in the Kingdom.
Sports, football in particular, and local arts and cultures between the two countries are one of the most prominent factors of attraction and commonalities between the two countries and constitute a good base from which to start developing popular cooperation between the two countries.
After almost 1 year living and working in Vietnam, what is your impression about our country? Do you have any plans in the coming time to boost the bilateral relation between Saudi Arabia and Vietnam? What messege do you want to share with our readers about Saudi Arabia, a country that is implementing the "Vision 2030" of becoming the world's leading political and economic center?
I am very happy to be in Vietnam representing my country in Vietnam, this beautiful and diverse country and its kind people. I am happy that I made great friends with the Vietnamese society, and every day I find many human commonalities in which the two peoples are similar.
When the Saudi national team won its first World Cup match against Argentina, I received dozens of calls from my Vietnamese friends.
My family is also very happy with their stay in Vietnam. My 8-year-old daughter, Sarah, started to master the Vietnamese language and began to speak it. She also helps me with translation when I am in popular markets and restaurants.
I am very impressed with the rich and varied Vietnamese food, way of life, respect for time and hard work.
I am also reassured and confident that the future of relations between the two countries will lead to further progress and prosperity.
Thank you very much, Excellency.
