Local exporters eye French markets

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has set a target of 2.45 billion USD in export to France for this year in view of gloomy economic conditions, and encouraged businesses to focus on consumer goods tailored to the tastes of French low and middle markets.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has set a target of 2.45 billion USD in export to France for this year in view of gloomy economic conditions, and encouraged businesses to focus on consumer goods tailored to the tastes of French low and middle markets.

According to the ministry’s Import-Export Department, French markets remain fertile lands for Vietnamese products, which account for a mere two percent of the markets, excluding footwear, which claims nearly 10 percent.

In addition, Vietnam is set to benefit from France’s policy to increase trade promotion activities with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The French Foreign Trade Ministry has singled out Southeast Asia as one of the target markets for its new overseas trade strategy.

Statistics from the Vietnam Trade Office in France showed that Vietnam’s exports to France hit 2.7 billion EUR in 2012, up nearly 40 percent year on year. During the year, Vietnam also recorded a 2.1 billion EUR trade surplus with France , a year-on-year increase of over 77 percent.

In 2013, Vietnam’s exports to France stood at 2.79 billion EUR, according to statistics from the French customs authority.

Vietnamese goods, especially household articles, garments and footwear, enjoy increasing popularity in France thanks to their quality and reasonable prices, commercial experts commented.

This year, Vietnam is among 10 developing countries to enjoy a tax rate reduction from 12-14 percent to 3-4 percent for footwear commodities shipped to the EU market.

In order to make inroads into France – a gateway to other EU nations, Vietnamese businesses are recommended to build trust and prove their cooperation capacity and quality of products for their potential partners.

They are also advised to avoid using such free email services as yahoo, hotmail and gmail in business transactions.-VNA

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