Around 100 Hong Kong businesses are undertaking a field trip to Vietnam to explore the market and meet government agency representatives, aiming to boost relations in trade, investment, innovation and tech. 

This is according to Vietnam’s Consulate General in Hong Kong. The initiative is focused on connecting HR training between Vietnam and Hong Kong, with the onus on pushing universities in Hong Kong to provide additional scholarships and boost cooperation with universities in Vietnam, according to Consul General Pham Binh Dam. 

He added that extra efforts would also be made to help resolve visa-related problems for Vietnamese workers in Hong Kong. 

The Consul General said that the agency had enjoyed a strong relationship with Hong Kong’s associations, agencies, trade unions and influential entrepreneurs in order to bolster relations with Vietnam’s ministries, localities, and businesses, Vietnam Plus reports. 

Hong Kong is one of Vietnam’s top economic partners, Pham Binh Dam stated, whilst Vietnam is the seventh largest trading partner of Hong Kong.

Last year, two-way trade between Hong Kong and Vietnam reached $28.5 billion and $25.2 billion between January and September this year. As of the end of last month, Hong Kong invested $28.9 billion into 2,133 projects in Vietnam.

Furthermore, in January last year, Hong Kong officially launched the issuance of visas for Vietnamese students to study in Hong Kong.

The Consul General went on to say that Hong Kong businesses are giving greater priority to the ASEAN market, including Vietnam, the report adds.