Amid the impact of COVID-19, exports still rose 1 percent and were a bright spot
and key foundation for the country’s economy to start the new year, Hai told a
forum in Hanoi on December 16 to sketch out trade promotion orientations over
the next five years.
He underlined that 2020 has been a tough year for all economic sectors, but
foreign trade has been profitable.
The trade surplus in the first 11 months of this year was a record 20.1 billion
USD, while total export-import revenue hit 489.1 billion USD, up 3.5 percent
year-on-year, with export revenue rising 5.3 percent to 254.6 billion USD.
Notably, 31 products posted exports of over 1 billion USD, accounting for 92
percent of total revenue, Hai said.
He expressed his hope that forum participants would contribute ideas on how to
expand trade promotions in each sector in a sustainable manner, as well as mid-
and long-term measures to increase exports. International trade organisations
are also expected to share their experience and provide information on market
developments in the present and the future.
To Tuong Lan, Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and
Producers (VASEP), said the association has changed its marketing method from
business-to-business to business-to-consumer, optimising connectivity tools such
as websites, Google, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.
Its website attracted 14,000 visits in just three months, she said.
Meanwhile, Nguyen Chanh Phuong, Vice President and General Secretary of the
Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of Ho Chi Minh City, said the wood
sector aims for 20 billion USD in revenue this year, which will depend on three
factors: materials, production, and exports.
The association is therefore working on securing certificates in sustainable
forestry development to ensure the supply of materials, he said.
Vu Ba Phu, head of the Trade Promotion Agency at the Ministry of Industry and
Trade, said that with trade of over 500 billion USD, trade promotions should be
strengthened by optimising spending and applying information technology.
Amid a boom in e-commerce due to COVID-19, the ministry will support businesses
to apply IT and develop e-commerce activities, he added.
Source: VNA