THE Prime Minister of Vietnam, Mr Nguyen Tan Dung, will visit Myanmar his first trip to the country since taking the post of premier last year, said a spokesperson from the embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Yangon.

“The main purpose of the visit is to enhance and strengthen the traditional relations between the two countries,” said Mr Tran Hoai Nam, the second secretary (press and information) at the Vietnamese embassy.

“Our premier will also promote trade relations because trade between the two countries is quite low right now,” he said.

Mr Nguyen’s visit to Myanmar will be part of a tour of five ASEAN countries – also including Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Brunei – that will last from August 8 to 17.

Mr Nguyen’s delegation will include more than 40 Vietnamese businessmen who are members of the Vietnam Chambers of Commerce and Industry and who are expected to meet with representatives from the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

“They will discuss how to promote trade relations and how to find opportunities to increase cooperation and trade between companies from the two countries,” Mr Tran said. “We are mainly focusing on agriculture, petroleum, mining and mineral resources, fisheries and livestock and so on.”

Vietnam’s main exports to Myanmar mainly consist of pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles, garments and small machinery for light industries such as agriculture and irrigation.

Myanmar exports finished wood products, agricultural products such as crops and beans, and fishery products to Vietnam.

Bilateral trade between the two countries totalled US$54.4 million in 2005-2006 and about $75 million in 2006-2007, with Myanmar enjoying a trade surplus during both periods.

“We are hoping to reach the target of $100 million in bilateral trade by the end of 2008,” said Mr Tran.