HANOI – Maraming Pilipino ang nagtagumpay sa pagnenegosyo sa Vietnam at hinihimok silang mag-organisa ng sariling business chamber upang magkaroon ng “united voice” sa pagsusulong ng kanilang mga interes at pangangailangan.

“We have encouraged our Filipino industrialized investors in Vietnam to reorganize themselves and we have been informed they are in a process of putting up their own board for the Philippine-Vietnam business group that is sort of a chamber of commerce in Vietnam,” sabi ni Philippine Ambassador to the Vietnam Noel Servigon, sa panayam ng media.

Ayon sa ambassador, ilang kumpanyang Pinoy ang namuhunan sa food, pharmaceutical at airline industries ng Vietnam nitong mga nakalipas na taon.

“Many are surprised that there are many Filipino investors here in Vietnam. Many do not know that our big food industries in the Philippines have factories here in Vietnam,” lahad ni Servigon.

“So when Filipinos come here they see very familiar snack items and also pharmaceuticals, there are also factories here which are owned by Filipino investors,” dagdag niya.

Sa kabuuan, ang Pilipinas ay mayroon nang mahigit 60 investment projects sa Vietnam. Tumaas ang bilateral trade volume mula USD416 million noong 2001 sa USD3 billion nitong 2015.

Kahapon dumating sa Hanoi si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte para sa dalawang araw na pagbisita mula Setyembre 28-29.

Tatalakayin sa pagpupulong nina Duterte at Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang ngayong araw ang mga isyu sa maritime cooperation, law enforcement at defense cooperation.

“We believe that the Philippines and Vietnam can further improve their maritime cooperation. We believe that the sea (South China Sea) that divides us should be more of a bridge that unites the two countries,” sabi ni Servigon.

(GENALYN D. KABILING)