Trade promotion centres from southern cities and provinces met in Ho Chi Minh City on May 30 to enhance cooperation among provincial trade organisations.

The representatives of trade centres in the region signed an agreement on a trade and investment cooperation programme that will be carried out from now to the end of 2020.

The programme is focused on efforts to enhance trade promotion, expand local and overseas markets, and promote goods and services of each province.

They will also work together to exploit the potential of each locality for socio-economic development.

In addition, the provincial trade promotion centres will jointly hold seminars, forums and organise training courses to improve trade promotion skills of their staff, and enhance the areas of communications and information as well.

Trade promotion programmes for the domestic market will include "Vietnamese goods fairs" to be held in residential areas and industrial parks, helping to bring locally manufactured goods to remote and rural areas.

Provincial trade fairs will include the HCM City Hi-Tech Trade and Agricultural Fair 2014; and the agricultural, industrial and trade fair of the southeastern provinces to be held in Binh Thuan, and the international trade fair in Can Tho.

Also, there will be a trade fair in Lam Dong; an international trade fair in the Mekong Delta in Kien Giang; the Mekong Forum 2014 in Soc Trang; Ba Ria – Vung Tau Trade Fair; the southeastern provinces' trade fair – expo in Binh Duong; and the Tourism – Trade Fair 2014 in Da Lat.

Overseas trade promotion campaigns will include market study tours of ASEAN countries, including Cambodia, Myanmar; Laos, Singapore, Indonesia and others.

The HCM City Trade Promotion Centre will also take part in the Viet Lao Trade Fair 2014 and the ASEAN – India Trade Fair 2014 and organise seminars such as "Experiences for exports to ASEAN markets" seminar and exports forums.

The Can Tho Investment – Trade – Tourism Promotion Centre will conduct a market study tour of Dubai and join the Big 5 Dubai 2014.

The participating provinces include An Giang, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Bac Lieu, Ben Tre, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Can Tho, Dong Thap, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Lam Dong, Long An, Soc Trang, Tay Ninh, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Vinh Long, and others.-VNA