Icelandic President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday as part of his four-day official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Vietnamese State President Truong Tan Sang.   

The visit, which began on Tuesday, is meant to foster Vietnam and Iceland’s economic partnership. 

The Icelandic president was welcomed yesterday by Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan at the Reunification Palace.

The potential of Iceland-Vietnam economic collaboration is very promising, Chairman Quan said during his conversation with President Grímsson at the palace.

The Vietnamese leader also suggested that Iceland establish commercial offices in Ho Chi Minh City and expressed his wishes for cooperation between Vietnamese and Icelandic universities.

Ho Chi Minh City hopes to obtain the Icelandic technology of geothermal energy and apply it to the food processing industry as well as other fields, said the Vietnamese chairman.

The city consumes over 17 billion kilowatt-hours each year, which accounts for 30 percent of Vietnam’s electricity output, he elaborated.

Iceland would love to share its knowledge of producing renewable energy, including geothermal energy, and high-tech fishing in which the country excels with Vietnam, according to President Grímsson.

The European country also wants to provide support in applying advanced technology to fishing and food processing, which will contribute to the sustainable development of the city’s fishing industry as well as a green economy, he added.

On Friday morning, President Grímsson attended a conference on establishing a successful fishing industry organized in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

Iceland considers the southern Vietnamese city an essential part in the country’s effort to cement collaboration with other Asian states, the Icelandic leader said at the conference.

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