A seminar was held in Hanoi on June 20 to improve information about Russian and Ukrainian markets.

The Trade Promotion Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade organised the event to help Vietnamese businesses boost their exports to the two countries.

Russia, one of Vietnam’s traditional trading partners, is a big market with a high demand for various kinds of goods. However, Vietnamese exporters have failed to make full use of the market’s potential.

Ukraine, Russia’s neighbour, is an emerging market where purchasing power is rising rapidly as the country is focusing on reforming its customs procedures.

Participants at the event said once Vietnamese goods enter the two markets, they can freely circulate to other member nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Vietnam exports seafood, vegetables, garments and textiles, footwear, cashew nuts and coffee to Russia and Ukraine.

Last year, seafood exports to the two countries reached 49.3 million USD.-VNA