Belgium proposes Antwerp partnership with Ho Chi Minh City
Port cooperation was discussed alongside investment opportunities in semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, high technology and energy.
Belgian Ambassador Leenknegt has proposed a city partnership between Antwerp and Ho Chi Minh City during talks with Nguyen Van Duoc, chairman of the Vietnamese city’s People’s Committee. The ambassador said their development strategies as major ports offered scope for cooperation.
Duoc said Ho Chi Minh City was developing the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port complex with the aim of becoming an international transshipment hub. He identified port development as an area for collaboration with Belgium.
The chairman put bilateral trade for January–October at more than US$658 million. He said Belgium had 62 investment projects in the city, representing nearly US$73 million in registered capital, and called for closer links between local authorities and businesses to encourage trade and investment.
Duoc said the city wanted more Belgian investment in high technology, digital transformation and energy. Healthcare and pharmaceuticals were also development priorities, he said, pointing to Belgium’s capabilities in medicines and vaccine manufacturing.
Semiconductors and workforce training were another focus. Duoc highlighted the city’s skilled workers and technology businesses, while Leenknegt said Belgian semiconductor research institutions and companies offered opportunities for cooperation with Vietnam, including training engineers.
Leenknegt said trade and investment were priorities for his diplomatic agenda. He had taken businesses from Flanders to meet Ho Chi Minh City port partners in October and brought a Wallonia delegation on his latest visit to examine business and investment opportunities.
