Hanoi will host the first Overseas Vietnamese Conference on November 21-23 in the hope of attracting more Viet Kieu (overseas Vietnamese) investors to the country, according to Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ministry spokesperson, Nguyen Phuong Nga, said that over 900 Viet Kieu from 52 nations have registered to attend the conference.

The meeting will table major topics such as building a strong overseas Vietnamese community and maintaining and developing traditional Vietnamese culture, while encouraging Viet Kieu professionals and entrepreneurs to work in the country.

This year, Viet Kieu sent remittances of US$6.8 billion to relatives or business in Vietnam, a decline of $400 million over 2008.

The Committee said Viet Kieu have invested in about 3,000 projects in Vietnam with a total investment capital of $2 billion.

(Source: VietNews)