The 2013 Export Forum was organised by the Ho Chi Minh City Trade and
Investment Promotion Centre (ITPC) on March 22 to support Vietnamese
enterprises during the current period of economic difficulty.

Themed “Dialogue with Commercial Counsellors”, the forum is a bridge
for HCM City agencies and other southern cities and provinces to
exchange export, policies, mechanisms, and trends; discuss obstacles
faced by Vietnamese exporters in international markets; and provide
information on export markets, trade promotion activities and Vietnam
’s prioritised markets.

This year, Vietnamese
enterprises have to face up to many difficulties, including developing
markets and finding partners, and outlets, while their key markets, like
the US, the EU and Japan, are struggling with internal problems.

Besides, nations and territories are adopting different measures to protect their domestic business and manufacturing.

Commercial Counsellor in Japan Nguyen Trung Dung suggests encouraging
Japanese firms to cooperate in manufacturing, and trading and processing
Vietnam ’s post-harvested farm, forestry, and fishery products ,
taking full advantage of their technologies to reduce the export of raw
materials.

According to the Commercial Counsellor in
Australia , the country is Vietnam ’s 9 th largest trade partner,
with two-way trade reaching 5 billion USD in 2012.

Vietnam wants to import wheat and dairy products from Australia .
It can export garments, textiles and aquatic products, which
Australia needs, he added.

Vice Chairwoman of Ho
Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hong said the city will
enhance links with commercial counsellors in key markets, and maintain
connections between banks and businesses, carry out stimulus, measures
and modernise technologies and machinery.-VNA