Around 400 businesses from 17 countries and territories are attending
the 23rd Vietnam International Trade Fair (Vietnam Expo 2013) that got
underway in Hanoi on April 10.

Addressing the
opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh
said that the annual event is a chance for domestic and foreign
businesses to meet and seek cooperative partnerships as well as
introduce their products to others.

Anh affirmed
that with the theme “Vietnam: Cooperation for Development”, the four-day
fair will act a bridge to boost trade promotion and increase exports,
contributing positively to Vietnam’s international economic integration.

At the event, Sun Seogki, Director General of the
Korean Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (Kotra), said that the
Republic of Korea’s Government considers Vietnam as a potential
market and partner for long-term cooperation, adding that this is the 15th time RoK has participated in the fair, with 64 businesses from the
country attending this year.

He said that trade
links will help RoK businesses increase exports to and cooperation with
Vietnam to build manufacturing plants in the country.

Within the framework of Vietnam Expo 2013, the Trade Promotion Agency
will hold a forum on April 11, with the aim to boost exports.

At the forum, local and international experts will analyse export
opportunities brought by free trade agreements (FTA), especially the
Vietnam-EU FTA.-VNA