Boosting exports to Japan was the discussion focus at a seminar held on July 21 in Hanoi.

The event, organised by the Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SMEs) Association, aims to assist local SMEs in fully tapping the opportunities offered by the Vietnam-Japan economic partnership agreement from 2015-2019.

Participants pointed out that strong tariff cuts under the agreement has opened up opportunities for domestic products to enter the Japanese market, especially key agro-aquatic and garment-textile products.

Tran Dinh Thien, Director of the Vietnam Economics Institute, said domestic enterprises should focus on product’s added value rather than productivity as well as on developing products unique to Vietnam.

Echoing Thien’s opinion on improving product quality, Nguyen Son from the cross-sector Steering Committee for international economic integration stressed the need for domestic products to meet Japanese standards to enter the particular market.

Do Van Dung, Chairman of the Vietnam-Japan enterprises association also underlined the improvement in production methods and process to meet Japanese requirements in product quality and safety.-VNA