At a reception in Hanoi on November 3 for the EU official, PM Phuc also expressed his wish that the EU will offer technical assistance to Vietnam in implementing the planned FTA. Vietnam is willing to create optimal conditions for EU investors to invest in agriculture and farm produce processing, he said. The government leader affirmed Vietnam’s commitments to protecting forests and wildlife. He also agreed with the European Commissioner’s proposal to establish a working group to further promote bilateral trade and investment ties. Hogan said the EU is accelerating the approval of the EU-Vietnam FTA so that the two sides could sign the deal in late 2017 or early 2018, adding that the EU will also provide technical and financial support for Vietnam to deal with natural disasters and climate change. The guest noted the EU has great demands for coffee, cashew nuts and farm produce, and hailed Vietnam as an attractive market and a gateway for exports to regional countries. Hogan told his host that a number of EU firms will pour more capital into Vietnam, particularly in agriculture and retail, in the foreseeable future. EU businesses appreciate the Vietnamese market for its political stability and have confidence in cooperation opportunities once the two sides sign the FTA, he said.