Gold Coast agent Roland Evans meets Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to talk trade

ONE of the world’s fastest-growing economies wants to do business with the Gold Coast, and one local has already had an audience with the man who leads the country.

Vibrant Vietnam is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

VIETNAM, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, wants to do business with the Gold Coast. That’s the word from the man who leads the country.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has invited a delegation of business people from the tourism capital to his country in May.

“Vietnam is one big greenfield — probably the best opportunity for Gold Coast businesses since we opened doors in China seven years ago,” Roland Evans, who will lead the delegation, said yesterday.

“We’re not talking solely about property but about all sectors of business and investment.

“The sky’s the limit once we make the Vietnamese aware of what the Gold Coast is all about and what we have to offer.”

Mr Evans, principal of the Canford Property Group, said the invitation to take a delegation to Vietnam came after he was invited to a closed-door meeting with Prime Minister Phuc in Sydney.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc with Roland Evans. Photo: Supplied

The invitation came at a Vietnam-Australia trade forum at which Mr Phuc, in Australia for an ASEAN meeting, and Mr Evans were present.

Mr Evans said Vietnam, where economic growth was topping 7 per cent a year, was Australia’s 13th-largest market, with exports totalling $5.7 billion last year and rising.

“It has some 90 million people, fast-growing wealth, and is very receptive to outside investment.

“The country apparently also has investors and businesses with an appetite to venture offshore, especially in ways that will help their core businesses.

“For example, one group at the forum said it wanted to buy as many avocados as it could in Australia.

“Naturally, I immediately thought of our avocado growers on Tamborine.

“That’s just one example of the opportunities that might open up for the Gold Coast and there could be benefits for everyone from architecture and law firms to tourism and fashion-industry operators.”

Mr Evans, starting from 2011, spent weeks at a time in China building relationships and opening an office in Shanghai.

His success resulted in a trade delegation led by Mayor Tom Tate visiting the country, a friendship-city relationship with Chengdu, and benefits to Gold Coast industries such as education and health.

“That was a spot of trailblazing that’s paid off handsomely,” Mr Evans said.

“I’m sure Vietnam will be equally rewarding but our delegation won’t be stopping just there — Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar will be in our sights too.

“Trade is a great way to build strong relationships with our neighbours.”