London (VNA) – More than 200 foreign firms attendeda conference to promote investment in Vietnam in London on July 4, which waschaired by Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung.

Addressing the event, Minister Dung said that the UK is animportant partner of Vietnam, while Vietnam is also a major economic partner ofthe UK in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam has seen strong economic growth and stable politicalsituation, he said, adding that the country has reformed its economy, equitisedState-owned enterprises and developed the securities market. He added that theVietnamese Government has completed mechanisms and policies to promote thereform of the State-owned sector, thus ensuring an open and transparent market.

William Russell, Alderman for theWard of Bread Street in theCity of London, said that in 2020, he will lead a Fintech delegationto visit Vietnam.

Meanwhile, UKAmbassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward said that in the first seven months of thisyear, the visits of Vietnamese Minister of Education and Training Phung XuanNha and Finance Minister Dung to the UK are good signals for the strongcooperation between the two countries in the future.

Foreign investorsat the event showed their interest in many sectors in Vietnam, including thecapital market, secondary market, insurance, climate change response,sustainable development and education.

CEO of PrudentialVietnam Clive Baker said that Vietnam is a promising market, noting that theinsurance market in Vietnam has expanded 25 percent per year, with abundantdevelopment spaces.

President of theDragon Capital Vietnam Dominic Scriven showed his optimism about Vietnam’sindirect investment market and held that the financial market of Vietnam isvery attractive, adding that Vietnam is on good track in developing the capitalmarket.

Vietnam is not amarket for short-term investment, but for middle- and long-term investors, hestated.

Speaking toVietnam News Agency’s correspondent in the UK, Minister Dung said that Vietnamhas great financial demand in all fields such as capital market development,securities market, insurance, infrastructure development, and State-ownedenterprises restructuring.

The Londonfinancial market has maintained high growth with strong capacity of capital mobilisation,which is suitable to Vietnam’s demand, he said.

Chairman of theState Securities Commission Tran Van Dung expressed his hope that after theevent, the indirect investment from the UK in Vietnam will rise, prompting thedevelopment of the domestic securities market.-VNA