Vietnamese firms are eyeing a good chance of exporting construction
materials and interior decor items to Saudi Arabia, the largest Middle
East country which is widely swept by infrastructure ramp-ups, an
official from the Vietnam Trade Office in Saudi Arabia told participants
at a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on June 25.
Experts noted
that Saudi Arabia, which imposes a 5 percent tariff on all imports, is
turning to new emerging markets, including Vietnam. It is even better
that investors are free from personal income tax and value-added tax
there.
To meet growing construction demand, the country
needs nearly 60 million tonnes of cement and 25 million tonnes of iron
and steel annually.
Head of the African, West and South Asian
Market Department Tran Quang Huy said almost all the Middle East
countries are much reliant on imports, especially wood and wooden
furniture because of their hot and dry climate.
To better tap
the market, he asked Vietnamese enterprises to focus on surveying
consumer habits and selling quality products there.
Contacting construction contractors to seek business deals is also a good idea, he said.-VNA