Vietnam and Italy have a lot of opportunities for cooperation asmore and more Italian businesses are targeting the Southeast Asiancountry, said a Vietnamese diplomat.

Speaking at aseminar themed “Vietnam in Umbria” held by the Confindustria in Perugiaprovince, Italy’s Umbria region in Rome on June 18, VietnameseAmbassador to Italy Nguyen Hoang Long said the economic and trade tiesbetween Vietnam and Italy have yet to match the two countries’potential.

However, in the context of the worldeconomic turmoil, the two sides are marking every effort to boost theirbilateral ties in all areas, especially in economics, Long said.

Vietnam is fully aware of the need to change its growth model,restructure the economy and take strong measures to promote foreigninvestment and support local businesses to operate overseas, thediplomat said.

He also stressed the significance ofItaly ’s policies to support Vietnam in training Vietnamese engineersand workers, helping them access to Italy ’ modern equipment andmachines.

He proposed the Italian side provide moreexport credits to Italian businesses who want to cooperate with theirVietnamese partners.
Italian businesses and associations shouldpresent their wish to engage in cooperation with their Vietnamesepartners to their government to receive the export credits, Long said.

Long said he plans to accelerate the establishment of personneltraining centre of the two countries to address the shortage ofqualified engineers and workers in Vietnam .

In2013, Italy and Vietnam will mark the 40 th founding anniversary oftheir diplomatic ties, thus Vietnam hopes to organise a broad range ofimportant events in Italian cities, Long said.-VNA