Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Lu Quang Tran

In the capacity of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Lu Quang Tran, Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat and Vietnamese Minister of Trade and Industry Nohin Hong Dane signed today a free trade area agreement between the State of Israel and Vietnam, at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. Vietnam is the second country in East Asia A free trade agreement with Israel (after South Korea) and the first in the ASEAN group of countries.

The agreement is expected to lead to mutual tariff reductions on imported and exported products, alongside the improvement and facilitation of trade in a variety of other areas. The agreement will provide a competitive advantage and facilitate the activity of Israeli exporters in the developing and growing Vietnamese market, thus strengthening Israeli exports and increasing growth in the economy.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
"I am happy to welcome the Vice President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Jerusalem and his distinguished delegation.

We have enjoyed excellent relations in the past decades, but this is an important turning point - today we are signing an official agreement that will expand trade between us. It is already extensive, but it will grow even more. I look forward to expanding our relations in innovation and in all areas where we can improve the lives of the citizens of both countries.

Vietnam is a vibrant and growing economy - and Israel is a vibrant and growing economy. The cooperation between us opens up new horizons through which we will be more successful in the future together.

Welcome to Jerusalem, sir. I'm glad to see you.'

After the signing of the agreement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Lu Quang Tran held a political meeting, during which they celebrated 30 years of relations between the countries. At the meeting we discussed strengthening cooperation between Israel and Vietnam in the fields of innovation, agriculture, tourism and more. We also looked into the possibility of direct flights between the countries.

The meeting was attended by, among others, from the Israeli side: the Minister of Economy and Industry, R. Hasegal, R. M.L.L., Director General of the Prime Minister's Office, the Political Counselor, Deputy Director for Asia and the Pacific at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Israel's Ambassador to Vietnam; And from the Vietnamese side: the Minister of Trade and Industry, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and the Ambassador of Vietnam to Israel.

Video: Itay Beit On / L.A.M
Sound: Yehezkel Kandil / L.A.M