Ambassador Meets with Minister of Industry and Trade

On 22^nd April 2014, Ambassador Zaigham Uddin Azam had a meeting with Mr. Vu Huy Hoang, the Minister of Industries and Trade of Vietnam. This was his first courtesy call on him, after his arrival in Vietnam on 3^rd January 2014. the Ambassador very candidly shared his opinion that the two way trade between the two countries was way below the potential that exists between the two countries. Ambassador Zaigham Uddin Azam emphasized that the forthcoming session of the Joint Trade Commission and the Joint Working group on 18-20 August 2014, should be judiciously utilized, in order to have the desired benefits of holding this important event. He specifically requested the Minister that while they were preparing the agenda for the forthcoming Joint Trade Commission, the issue of reduction of tariffs and duties on certain commodities, must be included in the agenda and that both countries should ultimately sign a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) or a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), in due course of time.