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Gov’t steps up trade promotion
The Government has urged agencies and enterprises to increase the level of trade promotion in an effort to achieve targeted export growth this year.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade would work with agencies from the central to the grassroots levels to maintain economic growth, ensure social welfare and help exporters.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Thanh Bien told a recent meeting in HCM City to review export performance in the first seven months of the year and to set goals for the remaining months.
Exports were valued at US$32.3 billion in the first seven months, a decrease of 13.4 per cent from the same period last year, Bien said.
With the increasing number of trade barriers set by importing countries, enterprises should map out appropriate production strategies, he said.
HCM City People’s Committee vice chairwoman Nguyen Thi Hong said the city would help companies reach export revenues of US$15.2-15.4 billion this year.
In the past few months, the city has successfully carried out many programmes, including trade promotion efforts in Cambodia and trade exhibitions and fairs, to help enterprises increase competitiveness and expand markets, she said.
To facilitate export, Hong said, the ministry and Government should establish more free trade agreements with importing countries in order to enjoy lower import duties.
The Government should also create policies to support enterprises in local and overseas trade promotions and lower peak electricity rates, she said.
Tran Vinh Nhung, deputy director of the city Department of Industry and Trade, said the Government should also support logistics firms and enterprises which take part in online trade promotion.
HCM City Fine Arts and Wood Products Association vice chairman Tran Quoc Manh asked the Government to support enterprises introduce new products and access new markets via trade fairs.
The Government should also offer enterprises financial support to conduct market surveys, he said.
"The materials used in producing wood products are now cheap," Manh said. "The Government should have a policy to support enterprises buy up low-cost materials for future use."
Former trade minister Truong Dinh Tuyen also urged the State Bank of Viet Nam to insitute appropriate foreign exchange policies to help promote exports and cut the trade deficit.
Tuyen also urged domestic enterprises to take advantage of the Government’s stimulus package and develop new trade promotion programmes.
vietnamnews
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