Vietnam and Maharashtra pledge deeper trade and cultural ties in Mumbai talks
Tô Lâm, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam and State President, met with Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, during an official visit to Mumbai. The discussions focused on deepening ties between HCM City and Maharashtra in trade, investment, and cultural exchanges. Both leaders highlighted the importance of their twinned cities—Mumbai and HCM City—in driving future collaboration. Lâm began by recognising Maharashtra’s efforts in hosting the Việt Nam-India Business Forum. He also stressed the long-standing partnership between HCM City and Mumbai, calling it a foundation for broader cooperation.
Fadnavis expressed keen interest in Việt Nam’s economic policies, particularly incentives for foreign investors in priority sectors. He proposed setting up a joint working group to speed up ongoing projects between Maharashtra and HCM City.
To boost connections, Fadnavis suggested launching direct flights between the two regions. This would support tourism, trade, and investment growth. He also urged Vietnamese businesses to explore opportunities in Maharashtra’s pharmaceuticals, agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure sectors.
Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in urban development, finance, innovation, logistics, and seaport infrastructure. They also called for stronger links between government agencies, businesses, and cultural institutions to enhance people-to-people exchanges. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen economic and cultural ties. Direct flights, joint working groups, and increased investment were identified as key steps forward. The discussions set a clear path for deeper collaboration between Maharashtra and HCM City.
