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Boosting export to Middle East, Africa
A workshop on how to boost Vietnam ’s exports to the Middle East and African market was held in Ho Chi Minh City on June 10 with the participation of economic experts and nearly 100 exporters.
According to Ly Quoc Hung, Head of the Africa-West Asia and South Asia Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, trade relations between Vietnam and Middle East and African countries have expanded over recent years with Vietnam enjoying an export surplus.
Two-way trade between Vietnam and the Middle East stood at 2.16 billion USD, of which 1.13 billion USD were Vietnam’s export earnings.
Meanwhile, the Southeast Asian country exported goods and services worth 1.56 billion USD to African countries in 2009, a year-on-year increase of 20 percent, and imported commodities worth 508 million USD from the market.
Major Vietnam’s exports to the two markets include rice, tea, coffee and cashew nut, seafood, wood products, rubber, computer, electronic products and components and handicraft items.
The country, in the mean time, imports oil and gas, plastic material, fertiliser, chemicals and steel from Middle East and African countries.
In the coming time, Vietnam will increase trade promotion activities to the two markets, help local enterprises popularise their products by attending fairs and exhibitions, organise online conferences as well as assist domestic enterprises in opening branches or representative offices in these regions.
Participants to the workshop also examined trade barriers and cultural differences to the two target markets.
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