A seminar to improve business access to the Republic of Korea (RoK) and boost trade exchanges with E-mart, the RoK’s largest retailer, took place in Hanoi on January 17.

Jointly organised by the Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the ASEAN–Korea Centre, the event offered participants a chance to seek new partners and learn about sought-after products in the RoK.

Ta Hoang Linh, Deputy Head of the Trade Promotion Agency, said since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties in 1992, two-way trade has increased 40-fold to 20 billion USD in 2012, making the RoK the largest trade partner of Vietnam.

Vietnam is creating favourable conditions for the RoK’s businesses to expand trade in the country. Meanwhile, the RoK is also making it easier for Vietnamese goods to enter its market, and is accelerating the free trade agreement negotiations.

Ki Bong-moon, AKC Representative, said the centre was set up in 1992 to promote activities in trade, investment, culture and tourism between ASEAN member countries and the RoK. It has helped Vietnamese businesses ship products to the RoK and vice versa.

E-mart experts informed participants of the RoK market trend in interior decoration and household appliances. The group will open its first branch in Vietnam this year. They expect to have 17 outlets in the country by 2017.

On the occasion, E-mart purchased products from Vietnamese firms to stock in its retail outlets.-VNA