New British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City focuses on promoting bilateral trade

New British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Alexandra Smith (left) and Deputy Consul General William Lawrenson

In her role as UK Trade Director in Vietnam, diplomat Alexandra Smith focuses on boosting bilateral trade, currently worth £6.5bn a year.

According to her, in addition to the Vietnam-UK Free Trade Agreement, the potential to enhance bilateral trade relations is fueled by new mechanisms such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans- Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). In June, the Vietnamese National Assembly ratified the UK’s accession to the CPTPP.

It is no surprise that trade is high on the agenda for the new British Consul General. Before starting her term in Ho Chi Minh City in mid-July, she was the UK’s first Trade and Economic Adviser to ASEAN, spending four years in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Before moving to Jakarta, Ms Smith led the UK’s trade negotiations with Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway. She also supported the policy and creation of the UK Trade Remedies Authority before taking up these roles.

Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Ms. Smith said that the healthcare sector between the UK and Vietnam has been particularly thriving in recent times, attracting interest from bilateral businesses operating in this field.

In addition, the education and training sector maintains a strong tradition of cooperation between the two countries, and British investors are looking to open more schools in Ho Chi Minh City. The potential for bilateral cooperation in the field of green transformation is also highly appreciated.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tan-tong-lanh-su-anh-tai-tphcm-tap-trung-thuc-day-thuong-mai-song-phuong-185240822175847802.htm