More Indian enterprises will arrive in Viet Nam this year to explore and expand their trade, investment and export activities, Kuldeep Singh, India’s acting consul general in Ho Chi Minh City said at a ceremony Jan 20 to mark India’s 59th National Day on January 26.

“Viet Nam is an important market in India’s Look-East policy, and the strategic partnership between the two countries has developed well since it was established more than a year ago,” the diplomat expressed.

Despite challenges from the economic meltdown, Kuldeep Singh went on to say, a series of trade and investment promotion activities will be held in 2009, including a field trip to Ho Chi Minh City by the delegation from the Indian export promotion council scheduled in February and March to seek business and export opportunities in the industries of pharmaceutical, chemical and cotton weaving.

Mid-Feb, an Indian investment exhibition will be also held in the city with the participation of more than 200 entrepreneurs from northeast of India.

Addressing the ceremony, President of the Vietnam-India Friendship Association of HCM City Huynh Thanh Lap, expressed his pleasure to the two countries’ closer cooperation in anti-terrorism, defense security, investment, culture, education and health.

Bilateral trade between Viet Nam and India reached US$3 billion in 2008.