Vietnam Envoy Holds Talks with West Bengal Chief Minister

Speedy Summary:

• Vietnam’s Ambassador to India, Nguyen Thanh Hai, met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the State Secretariat on July 8, 2025.
• Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral ties between Vietnam and West Bengal in various sectors.
• Ms. Banerjee invited vietnam to participate in the Bengal Global Business Summit organized by the West Bengal government.
• The meeting included officials from Vietnam such as Consul General Le Quang Bien and Counsellor Tran Thanh Tung, along with West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant.
• During his visit to Kolkata, Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Hai interacted with representatives of chambers of commerce regarding setting up a “dedicated desk” in Kolkata for fostering trade relations.
• Mr. Hai emphasized sending more delegations to India for expanding business opportunities and noted that VinFast has already started a $500 million electric vehicle (EV) plant in Tamil Nadu as part of strengthening bilateral trade ties.

Indian Opinion Analysis:
The meeting highlights efforts by both nations to enhance economic collaboration at regional levels-specifically between Vietnam and states like West Bengal within India’s federal framework. The invitation extended by CM Mamata Banerjee for participation in the Bengal global Business Summit signals openness toward exploring international partnerships through localized avenues rather than solely relying on central government initiatives.

Vietnam’s commitment to expanding its presence via investments such as VinFast’s EV plant suggests a willingness for long-term agreements contributing not only capital investment but also technology transfer-a key area for India’s advancement trajectory toward clean energy goals.Establishing a “dedicated desk” in Kolkata could streamline administrative processes vital for facilitating smoother trade dialogues between local businesses and Vietnamese entities while complementing India’s broader Act East Policy aimed at deeper engagement with Southeast Asia.

Read More: The Hindu