The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the Vietnam-Slovakia Friendship Association’s municipal chapter on May 10^th kicked off construction on the Vietnam-Slovakia friendship building in District 1.

At the groundbreaking ceremony. (Photo: voh.com.vn)

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, HUFO President Huynh Minh Thien affirmed that the project is a manifestation for the fine sentiments between the two countries and their people.

Licensed by the municipal People’s Committee in 2010, the building will comprise 21 storeys with around 13,700 sq.m of floor area. Its construction is expected to be completed in two years.

Once put into use, the building will also be the headquarters of HUFO.

Vietnam and Slovakia established diplomatic relations in 1950. Since then, the bilateral ties have developed continously, especially in trade and investment.

Trade turnover between Vietnam and Slovakia has grown 40 times compared to 2004. In the first 10 months of 2017, two-way trade reached about USD 630 million, up 80 per cent against the same period last year, making Slovakia one of Vietnam’s most important trading partners in Central and Eastern Europe.

Slovakia invested in nine projects in Vietnam with total capital of USD 247 million, making it 36^th among 128 countries investing directly in Vietnam.

VNF/VNA