Rome (VNA) – Raffaele Cattaneo, deputyminister in charge of international relations of Italy’s Lombardia region,called Vietnam a “diamond” of Asia and an attractive destinationfor Lombardia enterprises while speaking at a recent business and investment forum in Milan.

Lombardia’s export revenue to the Southeast Asiannation last year reached 2.5 billion USD, accounting for nearly 40% of thetotal trade value between the two countries, Cattaneo told the forum.

He noted that Vietnam’s renewable energydevelopment strategy will offer golden opportunities to Lombardia firms.

The forum on Vietnam- Lombardia business and investmentcooperation was held on May 31 by the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy in coordinationwith the Italian region and the Italy-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce (CCIV) as part of activities marking the 50th anniversaryof diplomatic ties between the two countries, bringing togetherrepresentatives from more than 100 businesses in Lombardia.

In his remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung briefedthe participants on potential, strengths and dynamic development of theVietnamese economy, and expressed his hope that Vietnam will be a priority in Lombardia’sprocess of internationalisation, trade and investment promotion, and technicaltransfer, making itself a model of economic cooperation with Vietnam.

The embassy stands ready to help Italian firms seek cooperationopportunities in Vietnam, he pledged.

Lombardia’sVice President Marco Alparone, who is also councilor for budget and finance ofthe region, stressed the close friendship between Lombardia and Vietnam, sayingthe two sides should consolidate and promote the relations in differentspheres, with economic cooperation playing the key role.

Lombardia has strengths in industrial production,agricultural processing, energy, finance, banking and services, which wouldsatisfy Vietnam’s increasing demand during its cause of industrialisation andmodernisation, he said.

During his stay in Lombardia, the Vietnameseambassador made field trips to some groups and businesses like Copan Spa, ChateauxD’Ax and Exetra Spa, aiming to promote cooperation projects with Vietnam in thetime ahead.

He also attended the inaugural ceremony of the newheadquarters of the CCIV in Milan./.