Vietnamese trade offices need to keep up their good work in assisting the country’s exporters and suggest the directions for export promotion of specific sectors in the coming time in order to serve as a mainstay of domestic businesses, delegates said at the Trade Counsellor Conference 2013 which opened in Hanoi on December 18.

According to them, apart from focusing on traditional markets, the offices should develop potential markets, promote investment in industrial sector and take part in dealing with trade disputes, especially in the context that protectionism is increasing.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Cam Tu said the Vietnamese trade offices have created linkages between domestic and foreign enterprises.

They have made contribution to the ministry’s performance and their operation and prestige have been recognised and appreciated by the ministry’s partners as well as local and foreign enterprises, he added.

In 2013, the country’s export value is estimated at 132 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 16 percent, while import valued at 132.1 billion USD.-VNA