Measures sought to support businesses in expanding foreign trade

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) on April 5 held a conference to evaluate trade promotion activities in the first quarter of this year and seek ways to help localities, economic sectors and businesses surmount difficulties and build strategies to expand international trade activities in the new situation.
Measures sought to support businesses in expanding foreign trade ảnh 1In the first quarter of this year, Vietnam’s total import-export value hit 176.35 billion USD, up 14.4 percent year on year(Photo: vietnamnet.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Industry and Trade(MoIT) on April 5 held a conference to evaluate trade promotion activities inthe first quarter of this year and seek ways to help localities, economic sectors and businesses surmount difficulties and build strategies to expandinternational trade activities in the new situation.

Addressing the event, MoIT Deputy Minister Do Thang Hai highlightedpositive signs in foreign trade so far this year, noting that in the firstquarter of this year, Vietnam’s total import-export value hit 176.35 billionUSD, up 14.4 percent year on year, with exports rising 12.9 percent and tradesurplus reaching 809 million USD.

However, he noted that domestic enterprises are under a double impact of continued complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia - Ukraine tension, which have caused disruption in supply chains including energy and pushed transport costs up. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese economy depends greatly on foreign trade. 

Therefore, the conference was held with the aim of assisting localities, economic sectors and businesses in building their strategies and applying suitable measures to expand import-export activities in such a situation, Deputy Minister Hai said.

Ngo Sy Hoai, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the VietnamTimber and Forest Product Association (VIFORES) said he hopes VietnameseTrade Offices abroad will help promote the image of Vietnam as a world leading hubof wood processing and export with resolute determination to develop the woodsector sustainably using green and legal material sources. He asked theVietnamese Trade Office in the US to give early alert on trade remedies in thismarket, so that domestic firm can prepare response measures.

Meanwhile, Dinh Quoc Thai, General Secretary of the VietnamSteel Association suggested that the MoIT provide information of importcountries’ trade defence investigations against steel products.

Measures sought to support businesses in expanding foreign trade ảnh 2MoIT Deputy Minister Do Thang Hai addresses the conference (Source: MoIT)
At the event, representatives from trade associations proposedthat the MoIT conduct more activities to connect domestic firms with theirpeers in foreign markets, and strengthen support to enterprises in joiningtrade fairs abroad.

Le Hoang Tai, Vice Director of the MoIT’s Trade PromotionAgency said that this year, the agency will continue to organise manyactivities to support the export of Vietnamese products to foreign markets.This year, the national programme on trade promotion will spend 80.41 percentof its budget for export promotion.

He said that the agency hopes for closer coordination fromVietnamese Trade Offices abroad in providing updated information on foreign market as well as technical barriers and risks of anti-dumping lawsuits andpreferential policies given by foreign countries to Vietnam.

The trade offices abroad were also urged to assist with the popularisation of trade promotion events held in Vietnam and programmes tointroduce national trademark, and help invite foreign firms to join tradeconnectivity events online./.

VNA

See more

Illustrative image (Photo: tapchitaichinh.vn)

SMEs urged to embrace ESG to unlock green finance

According to the International Finance Corporation’s 2023 Country Climate and Development Report, businesses with clear ESG strategies attract 20–25% more investment than those without ESG strategies.

Farmers in Thoai Son district, An Giang province, harvest the 2025 Winter-Spring rice crop. (Photo: VNA)

A new symbol of responsible production

Vietnamese agricultural products clearing strict technical and quality barriers to reach Japanese dining tables is no longer a rare feat. However, the recent export of 500 tonnes of Japonica rice by Trung An High-Tech Farming JSC in partnership with Japan’s Murase Group carries special significance.

The US dollar at Vietnamese commercial banks has so far this year increased by about 2.6-3% against the dong. (Photo: VNA)

Dollar appreciates in domestic market due to surge in foreign debt repayment

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)’s central exchange rate this week even set a new peak, surpassing 25,000 VND per dollar for the first time. The dollar selling price at commercial banks has also remained close to the ceiling, indicating that pressure on the USD/VND exchange rate has not decreased.

From left to right: US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Ambassador Jamieson Greer, US Trade Representative. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, US conclude third round of bilateral trade talks

The two sides also agreed to convene an online working-level meeting in the coming days to continue resolving outstanding issues and prepare for a virtual ministerial dialogue between Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

Export hub model opens new pathways for Vietnamese goods in Canada (Photo: VNA)

Model helps boost Vietnamese exports to Canada

In 2024, two-way trade between Vietnam and Canada reached over 11 billion USD, with Vietnam enjoying a trade surplus of nearly 10 billion USD. A key contributor to this success has been Vietnamese-Canadian businesses, notably Renso Foods.

The “Ting Ting Day” Festival opens on June 14 in HCM City (Photo: VNA)

Cashless payment festival launched in HCM City

As of 2024, Vietnam had recorded over 204.5 million bank accounts held by individual customers and 154.1 million bank cards in circulation. Nearly 87% of Vietnamese adults now have bank accounts.