The UK celebrates all that is GREAT in Vietnam
GREAT Week will showcase the best of British business to Vietnam and for Vietnamese people to find out more about UK culture, education and vocational training.
Lord Puttnam addressed at the launch of the photo exhibition,one of the first events of GREAT week.
GREAT Week will take place in Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City from 28 September to 4 October 2013. During the week UK and Vietnamese businesses will share experiences of marketing and advertising and consider new opportunities.
Participants, especially businesses in Vietnam, will learn more about UK products and services in the creative industries. These range from advertising and architecture to fashion, film, food and drink.
A Fun Run and an inter-company football tournament will kick off the Week. GREAT Week will also include:
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a workshop to highlight how vocational training can contribute to development.
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a UK fashion show
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performances by Candoco Dance Company demonstrating the contemporary dance company of disabled and non-disabled dancers
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a UK film festival celebrating British humour in five major Vietmenese cities, including Hanoi, Hai Phong, Danang, HCM City and Can Tho
Talking about the week ahead, the British Ambassador to Vietnam Dr Antony Stokes said:
GREAT Week will show that the UK is an ideal partner to meet the needs of the rapidly growing economy and vibrant population of Vietnam. Our expertise in education, retail and creative industries is of high quality and we believe will be of great benefit to Vietnam. We hope that GREAT week will give UK companies the opportunity to meet potential partners in Vietnam and forge relationships with will contribute to the development of both Vietnam and the UK’s prosperity.
The UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Lord Puttnam will be in Vietnam during GREAT Week. He will take part in all events to support the promotion of UK businesses in the country.
GREAT week is one of a number of events to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the UK-Vietnam diplomatic relations. And the strength of the relationship between the two countries is underpinned by a Strategic Partnership Agreement signed in 2010.
Further information
For further information, please contact the British Embassy Communications Manager, Ms Dinh Thu Huong, Telephone: 3936 0500 (extension: 2227), Email: dinh.huong@fco.gov.uk
UK – Vietnam Trade and Investment
Vietnam is a market with promising long-term growth potential and is forecast to be one of the top ten fastest growing economies in the next decade or so.
The annual bilateral trade in goods between the UK and Vietnam has grown rapidly, from a relatively small base. Two-way trade more than doubled between 2007 and 2012, reaching over £3 billion. UK FDI in Vietnam is on track to achieve the target with £1.69 billion stock investment at the end of 2011. However, Vietnam still only accounts for approximately 0.4% of the UK’s total trade, and the UK for 1.6% of Vietnam’s total trade.
As the strategic partner of Vietnam, the UK is committed to increasing trade and investment in Vietnam. The UK can assist Vietnam’s efforts to address its infrastructure needs such as on major projects including the 2019 Asian Games, the urban regeneration of HCMC with particular focus on the development of a new financial centre (Thu Thiem), mass transit urban railway, international hub airport (Long Thanh), and the civil nuclear programme.
The UK is the third largest EU investor in Vietnam with more than 163 ongoing investments by December 2012. UK business is well represented by leading UK multinationals such as Shell, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, GSK, Unilever, VietinAviva (a joint venture between Aviva Group and VietinBank), Prudential (the largest single overseas employer of Vietnamese nationals) and Harvey Nash.
Special events during GREAT Week for media
In Hanoi:
Monday 30 September
- 09:00 - Business to Business networking event
Venue: Conference Room No. 1, 7th floor, No. 9 Dao Duy Anh, Hanoi
Business to business networking meeting targeted Vietnamese companies from Hanoi and Northern Vietnam who are interested in exploring partnerships with UK businesses.
Contact person: Lê Thị Hương LIÊN 0913237328
- 10:45 - Photo Exhibition
Venue: 29 Hang Bai St. Hanoi
On display are selected photos of the historical moments in the UK-Vietnam relations and images of the UK, a familiar but surprising country through the eyes of Vietnamese reporters.
- 14:00 - Vocational Skills workshop
Venue: Melia hotel, 44B Ly Thuong Kiet, Hanoi
This will provide UK companies the opportunity to promote the benefits of ‘non-traditional’ routes of education and vocational training and how this would be of direct benefit to Vietnam.
Contact person: Lê Thị Hương LIÊN 0913237328
Tuesday 1 October
- 09:00 - Marketing and Advertising Workshop
Venue: Hilton Opera Hotel, 1 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi
This workshop is an opportunity to share experiences with leading UK agencies and learn from their experiences in Vietnam and to hear about emerging opportunities in the areas of marketing and advertising, including graphic design, brand strategy and market research. Contact person: Lê Thị Hương LIÊN 0913237328
In Ho Chi Minh City
Wednesday 2 October
- 14:00 - Vocational Skills workshop
Venue: Caravelle hotel, 19 Lam Son Square, HCMC
The event provides UK companies the opportunity to promote the benefits of ‘non-traditional’ routes of education and vocational training and how this would be of direct benefit to Vietnam.
Contact person: Lê Hạnh LÊ 0913000006
Thursday 3 October
- 09:00 - Marketing and Advertising Workshop
Venue: Caravelle hotel, 19 Lam Son Square, HCMC
This workshop is an opportunity to share experiences with leading UK agencies and learn from their experiences in Vietnam and to hear about emerging opportunities in the areas of marketing and advertising, including graphic design, brand strategy and market research.
Contact person: Lê Hạnh LÊ 0913000006
- 14:00 - Business to Business Networking Event
Venue: Caravelle hotel, 19 Lam Son Square, HCMC
This event is a networking opportunity to meet targeted Vietnamese companies from Ho Chi Minh City and Southern Vietnam who are interested in exploring partnerships with UK companies.
Contact person: Lê Hạnh LÊ 0913000006
Friday 4 October
- 10:30 - Photo Exhibition
Venue: At Lam Son Square, in front of the City’s Opera House
On display are selected photos of the historical moments in the UK-Vietnam relations and images of the UK, a familiar but surprising country through the eyes of Vietnamese reporters.