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Exporters told European Union has strict quality needs
Vietnamese enterprises should concentrate on improving the quality of their products to meet the strict requirements of the European Union, experts said on Friday at a conference in HCM City.
At the meeting on export and market opportunities with the EU in HCM City, economists, the EU representatives and Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) officials discussed solutions and challenges concerning the country's exports to the EU.
Dang Hoang Hai, the Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade's European Market Department said: "this year is expected to open more business opportunities in the EU market for Vietnamese exporters than last year."
The enterprises should not do business that allow for only short-term benefits. They should know how to consolidate commercial relationships and work to help their country, as well. Hai also pointed out that the Vietnamese handicrafts exports to the EU have decreased in recent years, after dropping from US$238.9 million in 2007 to $229.9 million in 2008 and then to $153.9 million last year.
The main reason for the backsliding is because domestic enterprises have not been successful in accessing major distribution chains in this market.
Hai said that domestic enterprises have been advised to have staff members who are in charge of following new EU regulations.
Antonio Berenguer, trade counselor of EU delegation to Viet Nam, said the websitehttp://exporthelp.europa.eu can help exporters access up-to-date information about laws, tariffs and import regulations.
"Viet Nam should also take advantage of opportunities that exist in the diplomatic channels and with business offices.", he said.
He noted that the EU is a highly sophisticated market that has strict import requirements including regulations concerning illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) seafood and an upcoming regulation concerning Due Diligence.
The Due Diligence regulation will require that businesses selling timber to the EU market for the first time must conduct a ‘due diligence' test in order to minimize the risk that the timber came from an illegal source.
During the talks, four representatives from the German Industry of Commerce in Viet Nam, the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Viet Nam, the UK trade and Investment in Viet Nam and the Embassy of Spain discussed export and market opportunities in these countries with Vietnamese exporters.
Hai said taste, consumption patterns, language and business cultures are different in all of the 27 EU countries. Making goods that are commercially viable in all of these countries is no easy task.
"The EU market has strict regulations concerning health and environmental protection and sustainable development. Thus, some enterprises are unable to follow the criteria and technical requirements mandated by the EU," he added.
Furthermore, the EU is being targeted by other export economies outside of Viet Nam. Last year, with respect to the global economic crisis, many countries have pushed exports in order to overcome the crisis, which has increased competition in several markets.
Dinh Thi My Loan from the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry's listed the trade remedies that the EU has already put in place including antidumping, anti-subsidy and safeguards, which Vietnamese exporters need to be aware of.
"The EU is a major attractive market with nearly 500 million consumers, opening business opportunities not only for large enterprises, but also for small and medium d enterprises," said Nguyen Thanh Bien, deputy minister of Industry and Trade.
"Vietnamese enterprises need to understand import regulations and technical barriers in order to take full advantage of this market.", he added.
Doan Duy Khuong, deputy chairman of VCCI said despite the global economic crisis, the total two-way turnover of Viet Nam-EU reached $14.8 billion. Viet Nam exported rubber, handicrafts, seafood, coffee, leather shoes, pepper, and tea to the EU and imported machinery, steel, fertilisers and medicine from the EU.
So far last year, total FDI from the EU countries in Viet Nam reached $12.5 billion.
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