The Ministry of Industry and Trade and Metro Cash & Carry last week organised Vietnamese Goods Days in Germany to advertise Vietnamese goods to EU market. — VNS Photo

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — The Ministry of Industry and Trade and wholesaler Metro Cash & Carry successfully organised Vietnamese Goods Days in Germany from June 26 to 30.

The consumer goods expo was meant to advertise and raise the profile of Vietnamese goods and services in the European market and establish links with supermarkets and retail chains there.

Speaking at the opening, Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang said the Viet Nam-Germany relationship has been elevated to a strategic partnership with bilateral trade increasing to nearly US$7.7 billion in 2013.

He hoped that Vietnamese producers would learn about European consumers' tastes through the event and improve the quality and design of their goods to boost their appeal in Europe.

Michael Wiedmann, Metro Group vice president and head of corporate public policy, hailed the potential of Vietnamese goods.

He said for over 12 years his supermarket chain has co-operated with the Vietnamese side to set up collection platforms for high-quality goods.

He sought continued support for such activities and expressed the belief that more and more Vietnamese goods would secure a firm foothold in the German and European markets.

Khuat Quang Hung, head of Metro Cash and Carry Viet Nam's public affairs and corporate communications, said it was for the second time that the programme was organised in Germany, and around 40 Vietnamese products had been introduced.

He said his company was very confident that many Vietnamese products, especially agricultural, would soon get a foothold in the German and EU markets.

At the event, company executives met with representatives of 30 Vietnamese companies and spoke about how to enter the German and EU markets.

The latter said Vietnamese products are liked in Germany yet their sales are below potential because quality is not good enough and brands are not well advertised.

Vietnamese goods are less competitive than those from Thailand or Indonesia, they added. — VNS