The business mission to Vietnam took place from May 26th to June 1st, 2019. The event was prepared within the Project Scheme of Economic Diplomacy by the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Hanoi together with SARIO agency. The goal of the business mission was to enable to establish business contacts in order to explore the possibilities of exporting products or services to the territory. An attractive program consisting of B2B meetings with Vietnamese partners and presentations of the business environment in Vietnam was prepared for the participants. Seven companies with representatives from Slovakia and six companies with local representatives took part in the business mission. The target sectors of the business mission were currently very attractive areas for Vietnam, i.e. recycling, separation and treatment of waste, sewage treatment, production and distribution of ecological packaging for food, wood industry, innovative ecological chemistry and food, and beverage production. There were two cities where the business mission took place, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In Hanoi, the members of the delegation had arranged meetings with Hanoi City Council, Investment and Planning Dpt., Vietrade (Vietnamese Trade Promotion Agency), CEEC (Central and Eastern European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam), and Slovak-Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce. The main event of the business mission in Hanoi consisted of presentations of companies and B2B meetings of Slovak companies with local companies. About 25 B2B meetings with Vietnamese partners took place in Slovilla. The second part of the business mission took place in Ho Chi Minh City, where the delegation met with representatives of the HCMC Department of Natural Resources and Environment and members of CEEC Chamber in HCMC. Also, in Ho Chi Minh City was an event with presentations of companies and B2B meetings of Slovak companies with local companies, during which approximately 30 B2B meetings with Vietnamese partners took place. Participants evaluated the business mission very positively, whether in terms of creating new contacts, starting negotiations with new partners or obtaining a good overview of how the country works and its' future development needs. Presentations of Slovak companies were perceived by the Vietnamese partners very positively and left a good impression. Participating Slovak companies were from areas of particular interest to Vietnam and for this reason, we see great opportunities for their future activities in this country. Vietnam and Slovakia have historically very good relations, which was evident during the presentation and negotiations of SARIO representatives with local companies. Also, the meetings of entrepreneurs with institutions in Vietnam had a positive effect, since the businessmen gained practical information about doing business in the country. We believe that activities of this kind can strengthen future cooperation between the two countries.
