HANOI, Aug 24 (AFP) - US aviation giant Boeing said Tuesday it was looking into having some aircraft components made in Vietnam within the next few years.
Boeing has decided to "begin the process of investigating how companies in Vietnam could take part in manufacturing aviation components," a company official said here.
"Boeing want our suppliers and partners to assess and evaluate the capabilities that Vietnamese manufacturers have to offer," said Wade Cornelius, Boeing vice-president of business developement and global strategy for commercial airplanes.
He said a five-year term was a "quite reasonnable expectation."
The investment plans received a warm welcome from the Vietnamese authorities.
"Most of transportation means such as automobile, ships, trains have been made or assembled by Vietnamese companies or joint-ventures in Vietnam. However, Vietnam has not been able to make aircrafts or spare parts," said Nguyen Manh Quan, director at the Ministry of Industry.
"For the Vietnamese aviation and its supporting industries to develop and participate in the international exchanges, Vietnam needs foreign assistance in funding and technology to make a shortcut."
Boeing was taking part in a symposium on aerospace manufacturing with the country's civil aviation authorities, the Vietnamese government and several other manufacturers including Fuji, Mitsubishi, General Electric and Rolls Royce.