Israeli minister urges businesses from Vietnam, Israel to leverage FTA

Vietnam and Israel have inked a free trade agreement (FTA), and enterprises from the two countries should rush to leverage the deal and boost multifaceted cooperation, according to Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat. Barkat’s comments were made during a press conference in Hanoi on Wednesday within the framework of the Vietnam - Israel business forum co-hosted by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Israeli Embassy in Vietnam. Vietnam is an important gateway for Israel to expand its markets in Southeast Asia and South Asia, the Israeli minister told the forum. Before attending the business forum, Minister Barket hosted a talk with Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, who invited the Israeli official to visit Vietnam for five days starting August 13. Currently, Israel is the third-largest buyer of Vietnamese products as well as the fifth-largest trade partner of Vietnam in West Asia.