Vietnam seeks Qatar assistance for Halal sector development

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked Qatar to help promote the Halal meat industry in Vietnam as part of efforts to strengthen the bilateral relationship.

Receiving visiting Qatari Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in Hanoi Monday, Chinh proposed that the two countries facilitate broader access to each other’s markets.

Vietnam expected stronger cooperation with Qatar in multiple areas, he said, adding that the two countries should increase delegation exchanges, beef up people-to-people contact and boost cultural exchanges.

The Vietnamese PM suggested that Qatar scale up its investment cooperation with Vietnam in infrastructure development, oil, renewable energy, green technology and digital transformation. He called for ODA funding from the Middle Eastern nation for infrastructure and agricultural projects in Vietnam that would make farm produce for export to the Middle East and Africa.

Chinh said Vietnamese authorities were in a position to support Qatari investment funds and companies in exploring business opportunities in Vietnam. The country also expected to welcome more Qatari tourists after fully reopening its borders without travel restrictions for foreigners, he said.

The Qatari Deputy PM said he agreed with PM Chinh’s suggestions, adding he would work with the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Qatari ministries and companies on intensifying economic bilateral relations.

He noted that the Qatar Investment Authority, his country’s sovereign wealth fund, has invested hundreds of millions of US dollars in Vietnam and would enhance ties with Vietnam’s State Capital Investment Corporation.