U.S., Vietnamese companies enter trade deals

U.S., Vietnamese companies enter trade deals A handful of U.S. and Vietnamese companies entered various trade commitments Tuesday, largely attributed to a trade mission led by U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez in November 2007.
   Alcoa of New York and Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Group signed a cooperative agreement on aluminum industry development, and Motorola of Schaumburg, Ill., and Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group signed contracts valued $28 million for the expansion of a GSM network across 12 northern Vietnamese provinces.
   Sabre Holdings in Southlake, Texas, and Vietnam Airlines Corp. entered a definitive memorandum of understanding for the purchase of an Internet-booking engine and e-commerce system and a passenger services system, which includes airline reservations, departure control, and inventory management technology.
   The Vietnamese government presented SSA Marine and Cai Lan Port Joint Stock Co. with the investment certificate for their joint venture company, Cai Lan International Container Terminal LLC. The certificate allows CICT to develop and operate container terminals at Cai Lan Port in Quang Ninh province.
   Gannon Vietnam Ltd., a division of Gannon International of St. Louis, was presented the investment certificate for its joint venture company Gannon Brewery Joint Stock Co. The certificate allows that company to develop and operate a beer brewing and bottling facility in Long An province.
   In addition, Vietrade, the Vietnam trade promotion agency, and the U.S. Foreign and Commercial Service entered a MOU.
   U.S. exports to Vietnam grew almost 73 percent in 2007, and more than 133 percent year to date April 2008, the U.S. Commerce Department said.