On October 2, Hai Phong City People’s Committee Chairman Le Ngoc Chau hosted a courtesy meeting with Mr. Kees van Baar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Vietnam. The meeting was attended by Le Trung Kien, Head of the Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority, and leaders of relevant departments and sectors.
Speaking at the meeting, Chairman Le Ngoc Chau emphasized that the Netherlands is one of Vietnam’s important European partners in general and an important partner of Hai Phong in particular. The city highly values the multifaceted friendship and cooperation between the two countries, the Ambassador’s attention and support, and the practical cooperation results achieved by Dutch businesses in Hai Phong.
The city currently has 16 foreign direct investment projects from the Netherlands, with total registered capital of USD 361 million, ranking 12th in the number of projects and 11th in total FDI capital in Hai Phong. In particular, in April 2025, Dutch group APM Terminals opened a representative office in Hai Phong and signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Hateco Group in the operation of the international container port. Subsequently, in July 2025, city leaders worked with CTP, the Netherlands’ leading industrial park developer, to study the implementation of an eco-industrial park model and sustainable development in Hai Phong.
Chairman Le Ngoc Chau expressed his hope that Ambassador Kees van Baar would continue to serve as a bridge for promoting cooperation, investment and trade activities, especially in seaports, logistics, high-tech industries, shipbuilding and clean energy. Hai Phong is committed to accompanying partners and creating favorable conditions to turn these cooperation opportunities into reality.
Ambassador Kees van Baar congratulated Hai Phong on its development achievements and affirmed that the city is always an important destination in the Netherlands’ investment strategy in Vietnam. The Ambassador also proposed that during the upcoming November visit to Vietnam by the Netherlands’ Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, a Dutch business delegation focused on seaport development would meet with city leaders to gain a deeper understanding of port planning and the development of the port and logistics system in Hai Phong./.
Source: Hai Phong City Electronic Information Portal