An exhibition at a conference in HCM City showcases products of 100 Vietnamese enterprises. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Companies should offer higher-quality products and authoritiesshould provide better business networking opportunities to increase purchase oflocally made goods and parts, experts said during a conference oncompetitiveness held on October 11 in HCM City.
Tran Quang Ha, deputy head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s IndustryDepartment, said that Vietnamese companies’ participation in the global supplychain was still limited, and that even though product quality was improving,most supporting firms supply simple, low-value components.
To enhance competitiveness, the ministry was pushing for more cooperationbetween local and foreign firms, as well as more training sessions for firmsand business networking events, Ha said.
More favourable policies are also being considered to encourage firms to investin the supporting industry.
Pham Minh Huong, operating director of the Vietnam National Textile and GarmentGroup, said that urban areas still preferred foreign goods, and that domesticcompanies were facing more quality international brands, in addition to moresmuggled and fake goods.
She said that companies should improve their production processes and conductbetter market research to understand customers’ needs.
Nguyen Huynh Trang, deputy director of HCM City’s Department of Industry andTrade, said the city had organised trade promotion programmes and networkingevents with other southern authorities, with more and more businesses findingsuitable partners.
The city was also buying agreat deal of produce from provinces, which allowed provincial specialties toenter HCM City’s distribution networks.
However, many products were still made manually, on a small scale, or withoutproper certifications required by modern distribution channels.
HCM City and provinces would continue their efforts to link firms fromdifferent regions and invest in developing provincial specialties, Trang said.
The city would also push for more semi-processing of produce at the provincesbefore it is transported to the city to reduce waste and improve producttraceability.
Ly Kim Chi, chairwoman of the HCM City Food and Foodstuff Association, saidthat small- and medium-sized businesses in the food industry were struggling toaccess big distribution channels due to limited funding and capability.
She said that more favourable tax policies and support policies should beprovided to spur growth of small retailers.
Dao Hung, deputy director of the Petrolimex Saigon, noted that products withunclear, misleading labels or unclear origin were still sold in the market, andthat some businesses remained unskilled in customer service.
“Businesses have to improve their product and service quality, as consumers nowhave more options than before, and can’t be persuaded to buy low-qualityVietnamese goods just because of patriotism,” he said.
More inspections to identify fraud and other violations were also needed, aswell as public awareness about high-quality goods should be improved, he added.
A campaign to raise awareness of Vietnamese goods among local customers waslaunched during the conference. The campaign will feature events to help firmspromote their products, and will include parades, musical performances andother promotional activities.
At the conference, an exhibition was held to promote products of more than 100Vietnamese enterprises.-VNS/VNA
VNA
