(VOV) - The first Vietnam-Indonesia trade, tourism and investment forum took place in Hanoi yesterday with the aim of fostering bilateral cooperation.

The forum, jointly held by the Indonesian embassy in Vietnam and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry proved to be a good chance for businesses from both countries to seek cooperative opportunities. Two-way trade turnover between the two nations hit US$4.6 billion last year, a record high since they established diplomatic ties in 1995. Vietnam imports steel, computer components, paper, chemical products from Indonesia and exports rice, crude oil and textiles to them. Vietnam possesses abundant materials for industrial production and experiences in agricultural production. Meanwhile, Indonesia is a promising market for Vietnam’s economy. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Thanh Bien spoke at the event: "The Ministry of Industry and Trade has attached importance to the Indonesian market in its management of Vietnam’s foreign trade. However, cooperation in economics and trade has not matched the potentials and wishes of the two countries. The two sides have been determined to raise the two-way trade turnover to 6 billion USD by 2015 and improve the trade balance".