Federal President: Skilled workers wanted – Steinmeier on advertising tour in Vietnam

Federal President
Skilled workers wanted – Steinmeier on a promotional tour in Vietnam

With the support of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the federal government is making an attempt to recruit skilled workers Vietnam undertaken. At the start of Steinmeier’s state visit to the Southeast Asian country, the labor ministers of both countries signed a corresponding agreement. “We in Germany have a great need for skilled workers. And we are pleased that Vietnam is ready for this cooperation with Germany,” said Steinmeier after a conversation with President Vo Van Thuong on Tuesday in the capital Hanoi.

“I believe this is the beginning of a really fruitful collaboration,” said Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD). It’s about “removing bureaucratic hurdles and also ensuring that the people who come to us in Germany are treated fairly.” The legal framework has already been created with the Skilled Immigration Act. “Now it’s about practice.” To this end, more targeted information should be provided in Vietnam about the legal situation and options in Germany.

Steinmeier arrived in Hanoi in the morning. He is accompanied by his wife Elke Büdenbender. A business delegation also came to Asia.

A country with 98 million inhabitants

In terms of area, Vietnam is almost as big as Germany, but with a good 98 million inhabitants, it has 15 million more people. The country is one of the last communist states in the world, but opened up economically a long time ago. There are numerous shops with renowned luxury brands in the capital Hanoi. According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 207,000 people with a Vietnamese migration background lived in Germany in 2022.

Steinmeier made clear Germany’s interest in more economic cooperation. The bilateral trade volume is currently around 18 billion euros. For Vietnam, Germany is the most important trading partner in Europe and the fourth most important investor. “This does not by any means exhaust the potential in the economic relations between our two countries.” Thuong asked Steinmeier for support for the Bundestag’s ratification of the investment protection agreement between his country and the EU.

It is the fifth trip to Asia that the Federal President has made since the start of the war in Ukraine almost exactly two years ago. After Russia’s attack on Ukraine, Germany is repositioning itself politically and economically. Relations with China and their economic dependencies are also viewed much more critically today than they were just a few years ago. The short formula could be more distance from China and more cooperation with its neighbors – such as Vietnam.

Germany and Vietnam have been linked in a “strategic partnership” since 2011, although this had somewhat faded. In November 2022, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) was in Hanoi to revive it. Steinmeier pursues the same goal.

Not an easy partner

However, Vietnam is not an easy partner for Germany. The country is a one-party system. The Communist Party claims leadership of the state and society for itself. Other parties are not permitted. Human rights organizations see freedom of expression and freedom of the press as severely restricted. The right to freedom of association is undermined, arbitrary arrests and torture and ill-treatment of detainees occur. Vietnam is ranked 178th out of 180 in Reporters Without Borders’ press freedom rankings.

At the start of their visit to the Goethe Institute, Steinmeier and Heil found out about language training for young Vietnamese people who have already completed specialist training and want to come to Germany soon. Like the 23-year-old metal technician Nhut Khanh, who already has an employment contract with a German company. “I’m really looking forward to Germany,” he told the guests. “We are really pleased that you have chosen our country,” replied Heil.

dpa