Having faced numerous barriers while expanding to new export markets, many local
businesses have temporarily put such efforts on hold to focus on key markets
with which they have strong relationships.
According to the Ministry of
Industry and Trade , Vietnam made a great effort to get a better foothold in
markets in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America in 2010. However, these
markets are far away from Vietnam and have various differences in terms of
customs, culture and consumption habits. As a result, progress remains limited
despite concerted efforts from both sides.
A number of exporters have
even refused to ship products to Russia - a traditional market which is expected
to help them boost their overall export turnover - due to import tariff barriers
and the methods used to calculate taxes.
Chairman of the Vietnam Textile
and Apparel Association (Vitas) Le Quoc An said the European Union (EU), Japan
and the US remain the top choices for domestic companies.
The opinion is
fuelled by the fact that most of the 57 overseas trade promotion projects funded
by the Ministry of Industry and Trade target these markets. Along with such
programmes, the enterprises join in specialised fairs to introduce their
products abroad.
From April to October, a number of associations will
participate in fairs and exhibitions in the US . Vitas plans to take part in the
GlobalTex Fair in Los Angeles and the Magic Show Fair in Las Vegas , while the
Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association will join an international fair
and exhibition on wooden furniture in Chicago and the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa
Association will conduct a fact-finding tour in New York .
In the EU
market, the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, the Vietnam Software Association and
the Trade Promotion Centre for Agriculture will participate in fairs in Italy ,
Germany and France , respectively.
Also, domestic businesses are
striving to fully tap the advantages offered by the Vietnam-Japan Economic
Partnership Agreement to boost the export of garments, footwear, handicraft
products, wooden furniture and agro-fishery products to this market.
Experts forecast that this year’s exports will not see a breakthrough
growth as Vietnam’s key markets have yet to recover completely, citing earnings
of 8.9 billion USD in the first two months – an equal volume to that of the same
period last year./.