Vietnamese and Turkish businesses operating in electrics, electronics, and information technology gathered at an exchange in Ho Chi Minh City on June 7.

The event was jointly held by the Istanbul Electrical, Electronics, and Information Technology Exporters’ Association (TET), Turkish Embassy in Vietnam, and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ho Chi Minh City (VCCI-HCMC).

The TET President, Faith Kemal Ebielioglu said the exchange is part of the assosciation’s working programme in 2013 with the aim to increase export capacity of member enterprises and enhance international cooperation.

The Turkish business delegation arrives in Vietnam this time to introduce their strong points, as well as survey investment environment, thus boosting business ties between the two countries, he said.

Vo Tan Thanh, VCCI-HCMC Director said Turkey is a potential market for Vietnamese exports, as well as a potential supplier of materials for many industries such as steel, construction materials, chemicals and electronics. Therefore, he said, the two Governments and their business communities should work harder to fully tap the potential.

He also emphasised that agreements on investment protection and double-taxation avoidance, which are expected to be signed in the coming time, will open up new opportunities for bilateral trade ties to flourish.

In the 2009-2012 period, Vietnam saw the highest and steadiest growth rate in export to Turkey, compared to other Southeast Asian countries.

In 2012, Vietnam’s export turnover to Turkey reached almost 863 million USD, up 11 percent year on year.

In the first three months of this year alone, the figure was 219 million USD, a year-on-year rise of 19 percent.

Some Vietnamese export staples to Turkey are rice, yarn, mobile phone spare parts, among others.-VNA