A delegation of 12 Vietnamese handicraft enterprises has paid a working visit to Norway to promote their products and seek partnerships and export opportunities.

Headed by Deputy Director of Hanoi’s Department of Industry and Trade Dao Thu Vinh, the delegation met with representatives from the Enterprise Federation of Norway (VIRKE), Oslo Chamber of Commerce and a number of local businesses, including Senze of Joy, Northern Gifts AS and Aurora verksted AS in Oslo.

A handicraft exhibition was held during the March 9-10 visit, featuring various new designs created through collaborative efforts between Vietnam and several Northern European designers.

Speaking at the exhibition’s opening ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Norway Le Thi Tuyet Mai and VIRKE Director Thomas Angell spoke highly of the collaboration between Vietnamese and Norwegian businesses in trade promotion activities.

Hanoi is home to over 1,300 handicraft villages, equivalent to 65 percent of the country’s total villages.

The capital city has been working with the Vietnam Handicraft Exporters Association (VIETCRAFT) to draft a business plan focused on developing handicraft designs in coordination with experts and design institutes in Northern Europe, the world’s leading centre of creative industries.

According to VIETCRAFT Vice President Le Ba Ngoc, handicrafts have become key Vietnamese exports in recent years. The country shipped abroad 1.7 billion USD worth of handicrafts last year, providing employment to 1.5 million rural workers.-VNA