Italy to open shoe technical centres in Vietnam

The Italian government will assist Vietnam to open two technology centres for the footwear and garment industries in 2016. According to Bruna Santarelli, a commissioner at the Italian Trade Commission in Vietnam, the facilities will be established at two leading Vietnamese universities.

The opening of the technology centres is said to be the result of a number of initiatives from the Italian government. These include the 2014 'Unlock Italy' decree, which was designed to boost the promotion of products bearing the 'Made in Italy' label within the global market.

The centres are reported to have been planned in order to assist Vietnam improve the performance of its footwear and garment sectors. Italian companies will equip the facilities with their machinery and technology, in addition to sending experts to train the local workforce. The garment centre – in which 15 machines are to be installed – is to be inaugurated at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology in November 2016.

A strategic dialogue between the two countries was held to discuss options for increasing bilateral trade ties and investment cooperation. During an official visit to Vietnam where he met the host nation's premier Truong Tan Sang, Italian President Sergio Mattarella said that Vietnam is among the ten emerging markets Italy has prioritised in which trade and investment will be developed.

Photograph above shows Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 2 of the January 2016 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

Other articles from this issue »

---