Vietnamese companies should seek to expand exports through e-commerce,which is becoming an effective channel for approaching importers.
Expertssaid that import demand from developed countries was huge and thesewere markets where e-commerce was dominant, adding that e-commerce couldhelp also save costs and result in greater efficiency for exporters,compared with the traditional trade transaction channels.
However,the gap in the application of e-commerce remains considerable betweendeveloped and developing countries, experts said, urging Vietnamesefirms, especially small and medium-sized companies, to grasp the chanceof exploiting e-commerce to expand markets as e-commerce was growingrapidly.
According to Tran DinhToan, Deputy Director of OCBTechnology and Investment Company, e-commerce is an effective tool forexport firms to explore new markets and expand into them.
Toanpointed out that many export firms in Vietnam have approached importersand signed contracts through the website Alibaba.com.
Dang QuangVu, a representative from Hapro, which now exports products to more than70 countries with an estimated total export turnover of 9 trillion VND(422.5 million USD), said e-commerce had been an effective channel forHapro to expand into more export markets.
Products of the NhanMinh Company were now placed on shelves of retail channels of more than10 countries thanks to e-commerce, the company's representative said.
GorettiLee, marketing manager of Alibaba.com was quoted by Thoi Bao Kinh TeVietnam (Vietnam Economic Times) as saying that many importers wereshowing an interest in Vietnam, which was evident in the growing numberof inquiries via the website. She said the application of e-commercewould help Vietnamese firms to seek more trade partners.
Currently,the potential of applying e-commerce for boosting exports had not beenfully exploited by Vietnamese firms due to a lack of knowledge and humanresources, experts said, adding that it was necessary for firms toinvest in e-commerce.-VNA
