Commercial centres head overseas

Vietnam plans to set up commercial centres in several countries to boost exports, showcase its products, and generally help Vietnamese enterprises do business in those countries.

The country now has a commercial centre in New York and Dubaieach and commercial offices in 55 countries.

The Ministries of Industry and Trade and Planning and Investment are now planning to establish commercial centres in seven more countries including Russia , Germany , and Singapore .

Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC), Truong Trong Nghia, said ITPC plans to establish commercial centres in many countries, but its first priority is Cambodia and Australia .

Dang Ngoc Quang , Vietnam ’s former Commercial Counselor in Dubai , said thanks to the commercial centre in the Emirate, exports have increased year after year.

But establishing commercial centres is a tricky task.

A Department of Industry and Trade official said the procedures for setting up shops in foreign countries are much more stringent than in Vietnam .

Vu Kim Hanh, former director of ITPC, said Vietnamese enterprises lack professionals with good knowledge of the market and the capability to draft market strategies.

VNA

>   Vietnam to import 200,000 tonnes of salt (23/07/2008)

>   Household economic production needs to be reformed (23/07/2008)

>   HCM City secures a record low of CPI in July (23/07/2008)

>   A long-term solution needed (23/07/2008)

>   Many more new projects in southcentral province (23/07/2008)

>   Hai Phong lures $1 billion in FDI (23/07/2008)

>   Multi-billion USD projects pour into Vietnam (23/07/2008)

>   Vietnam’s first petrol risk management company set up (23/07/2008)

>   Green light for vocational schools in large enterprises (23/07/2008)

>   Private buses veer into inter-provincial market (23/07/2008)