Enterprises from the Czech Republic wish to step up trade cooperationwith Vietnam and expand together into global markets, Manager of theCzech and Moravian Electrical and Electronic Association (EIA) Jan Prokstold the Vietnam Economic Times.

Proks,accompanied by Czech firms, is in Hanoi for the 25 th VietnamInternational Trade Fair (Vietnam Expo 2015) between April 15 and 18.

The Czech Republic has maintained a strongrelationship with Vietnam for more than 60 years, and many overseasVietnamese consider the country their second home, the EIA chief said.

According to Proks, the European nation has a strongmanufacturing industry, focusing on electrics, energy and materials formachines, metallurgy, automobiles, food and beverages and traditionalglass and crystal products.

Its main buyers includeEuropean Union (EU) member states, notably Germany, alongside China,Russia, the Middle East and Vietnam.

The country hasprimarily shipped machines and electrical products to Vietnam in recentyears, he noted, adding that the country is looking to further expandits list of export items to the partner.

Proks madeclear the potential for bilateral cooperation in electrics, electronics,information technology and public services in the future and expressedhis willingness to act as a bridge for Vietnamese businesses to enter EUcommon markets.

Vietnam has been the EIA’s important partner in Asia, he emphasised.

The EIA is a Czech-based free union of entrepreneurs and employers andassociates major domestic producers and suppliers of the electrical andelectronic industries as well as of information technology. It servesas an industrial and business lobby group striving to support businessand help skilled manufacturers succeed. It also aims to improve thecompetitiveness of Czech firms.-VNA