Vietnam, Czech Republic boost cooperation in auto manufacturing

Hanoi – Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai hosted a reception in Hanoi on November 16 for Ambassador of the Czech Republic Vítězslav Grepl and a delegation from Skoda Auto, a car maker of the Czech Republic, who came to seek partners to build an automobile factory in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

Hai said the exchange of high-level delegations over the past years has created a driving force for bilateral economic, trade and investment ties between the two countries.

He added that Vietnam’s auto industry has grown rapidly over the past three years and welcomed Skoda Auto's plan to invest in Vietnam. The presence of Skoda vehicles in Vietnam will help diversify the domestic auto market, Hai said.

Grepl, for his part, expressed his hope that auto manufacturing will become a focus of bilateral cooperation in the future.

Ondrej Cerny, a representative of Skoda Auto, said the car maker was established in 1985 in the Czech Republic and is part of Volkswagen Group.

The company plans to build an auto factory in Quang Ninh and begin exporting automobiles by 2023, he said, adding that he hoped the Vietnamese Government, ministries and agencies will offer all possible support for Skoda Auto.

Hai said Vietnam signed 14 free trade agreements with countries in and outside the region, especially commitments related to the auto industry in ASEAN, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. Therefore, he suggested the Czech Republic side thoroughly consider Vietnam’s international commitments as well as domestic laws to carry out investment.

As of October 2021, the Czech Republic has invested in 38 valid projects worth 91.23 million USD, ranking 49th out of 140 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.