Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has urged overseas Vietnamese offices of commercial affairs to work as advisors for the Government, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and businesses in export-import activities and international integration.

The Deputy PM was speaking at a commercial counselor conference which is taking place in Ho Chi Minh City on December 16-31.

Sharing Dam’s views, Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang laid stress on the need for commercial counselors to focus on export promotion, especially in key and potential markets.

He suggested them grasp host countries’ demands for commodities in order to give advice to domestic enterprises on the way to expand their overseas markets.

It is necessary for the commercial affairs offices to seek new markets for businesses apart from traditional ones, the minister said.

At the conference, Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son also highlighted a renovation in consultation work of the counselors as well as closer coordination of domestic stakeholders.

Deputy PM Dam urged ministries, branches and localities to partner with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to help commercial counselors better perform their bridging role.

Vietnam has the right to pin high hope on strong changes in commercial affairs if all above are well done, he said, adding that the better performance will be reflected through the country’s bright trade picture in the time ahead.

Over the past time, thanks to the officers of commercial affairs, many domestic enterprises have tied up with Vietnamese partners abroad or those in host countries, thus expanding their exports.

Vietnam now has 55 commercial affairs offices, seven commercial affairs branches and one trade promotion centre which scatter across five continents with a staff of 122 officials.-VNA