Qatari investors are welcome if they are interested in buying stakes in Vietnamese companies, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told the newly appointed ambassador of the Arab country in Hanoi on Wednesday.

The investment invitation was among issues discussed by the premier and Qatari Ambassador Abdullah Sultan Al-Hamar on the occasion of his taking office in Vietnam, according to the Government Office.

PM Dung welcomed the new ambassador and underlined the good friendship between Vietnam and Qatar, adding that recent bilateral cooperation has yielded good results for the two countries.

“Vietnam is willing to invite major investors from Qatar to buy stakes in the country’s privatized businesses or become the strategic shareholders of major commercial banks,” the premier said.

Qatari investors are also welcome to purchase the right to operate Vietnam’s airports, seaports, or expressways, the premier added.

The Vietnamese prime minister said there is still potential for economic cooperation between the two countries and suggested boosting investment cooperation and trade exchange activities.

Qatar should create conditions to facilitate the exports of Vietnamese goods and the two countries should soon organize an inter-government meeting to further foster trade and cooperation ties.

PM Dung also urged Qatar to recognize Vietnam's market economy status and support the country with official development assistance to improve life in poverty-stricken areas.

In the meantime, Ambassador Abdullar Sultan Al-Hamar said he is tasked by the Qatari king and prime minister with boosting ties with the Southeast Asian nation during his term in Hanoi, adding that Vietnam is an important country in Qatar’s foreign policy.

The ambassador expressed his confidence that a big investment flow from Qatar will come to Vietnam in the future.

The Qatar National Bank, the largest bank in the Middle East, is slated to inaugurate its branch in Ho Chi Minh City on March 30 and will soon open a representative office in Hanoi after that, which the envoy said will help increase Qatari investment in Vietnam.

Qatari investors have so far pumped more than US$1 billion into the Southeast Asian country but they are not satisfied with the figure. The investors are thus seeking major projects in Vietnam to open their pockets in the future, according to the ambassador.

Ambassador Hamar also said Qatar supports Vietnam’s economic reform effort, adding the Arab country will soon recognize Vietnam’s market economy status.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!