Trade centre helps regional exports

31 Ja, 2010

HCM City’s Investment and Trade Promotion Centre popularised Vietnamese products in neighbouring countries, such as Cambodia and Laos, last year at a time when exports to traditional markets had taken a hit from the global financial crisis, a city leader noted.

Speaking at a review of the centre’s activities on Wednesday, vice chairwoman of the city People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, however, exhorted it to further strengthen its external promotion activities to help businesses overcome the economic downturn.

"If the economy faces difficulties, trade promotion needs to be stronger and better," she said.

Last year the ITPC scored particular success by expanding the Cambodian market for city businesses by holding exhibitions in Phnom Penh in April and Battambang in November.

"More than 550,000 visitors came [to the fairs] and bought goods worth US$4.9 million," said Tu Minh Thien, director of the centre.

The ITPC also organised eight surveys, sales and road shows in the country.

At home, it focused on market promotion by taking products to remote and rural areas. It worked with 17 southern and Central Highland provinces to implement trade promotion and find partners.

The centre welcomed 97 delegations coming to city to look for investment opportunities, including nine from abroad, in some key areas like infrastructure, support industries and electronics.

Thien said: "The ITPC organised 19 training courses for 1,148 employees from 762 enterprises.

"Furthermore, we provided trade promotion information to 154 delegations, organised seven meetings between Government authorities and enterprises."

In 2010 the centre would focus on the food, handicrafts and electronics sectors.

"Besides exploring more foreign markets, especially Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Russia and the US, we will also organise international trade fairs in Viet Nam to attract foreign investors," Thien said.

The centre hopes to increase investment by key nations, including Japan, South Korea, the US, Germany and France, by 10 per cent this year.

PV