Mumbai, May 7 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said the state was ready to act as a reliable partner in strengthening ties between India and Vietnam. He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to deepening cultural, economic, and people-to-people relations with Vietnam.

Addressing the India-Vietnam Business Forum during Vietnamese President To Lam’s one-day visit to Mumbai, Fadnavis invited Vietnamese entrepreneurs to invest in Maharashtra.

Chief Minister Fadnavis congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President To Lam for elevating the India-Vietnam partnership to an “Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”. Highlighting Maharashtra’s rich Buddhist heritage, he referred to the significance of Nagpur, where Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar gave Buddhism a modern foundation.

He also invited Vietnamese investors and tourists to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ajanta and Ellora. He proposed the establishment of a dedicated Buddhist tourism circuit, the launch of direct flight services between Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Ho Chi Minh City, and the organisation of an annual Maharashtra-Vietnam Business Council meeting alternating between Mumbai and Ho Chi Minh City.

Noting the similarities between Mumbai and Ho Chi Minh City, Fadnavis welcomed the recent agreements signed between the two cities. He specifically highlighted a proposed $6.5 billion investment in Maharashtra by Vietnamese conglomerate VinGroup, describing it as the largest investment proposal from Southeast Asia.

“Mumbai and Pune’s pharmaceutical sectors are world-class. Maharashtra has the capacity to become a reliable supplier of affordable generic medicines and vaccines to Vietnam,” the Chief Minister said.

He further invited investments in sectors such as energy, information technology (IT), pharmaceuticals, healthcare, tourism, infrastructure, and manufacturing hubs located in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Gadchiroli.

President To Lam said both nations must take the lead in industry, technology, infrastructure, and trade to further strengthen their comprehensive economic partnership. Recognising Mumbai as India’s principal economic and industrial centre, he emphasised the need to provide a fresh direction to bilateral relations.

President To Lam noted that bilateral trade between the two countries was steadily increasing, thereby strengthening the economic foundations of both nations. He identified electric vehicles (EVs), infrastructure, technology services, and energy as high-potential sectors for future collaboration.

The President also outlined five pillars for future cooperation, including trade facilitation and easing investment procedures, enhancing economic cooperation, strengthening infrastructure and logistics connectivity, promoting skill development, and leveraging shared technological expertise.

The forum concluded with the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between industries from both countries in the presence of President To Lam and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

–IANS

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