Viet Nam imports from Sudan mainly petroleum and steel products, and exports rice, coffee, seafood, garments and textiles to Sudan. — Photo hanoimoi

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — Viet Nam and Sudan have plans to increase trade as the current level remains modest, the deputy director of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry's HCM City branch has said.

Speaking at a Viet Nam-Sudan business meeting held in HCM City yesterday, Nguyen The Hung said trade revenue between the two countries was US$20 million a year in the period from 2008 to 2013.

Last year, it reached $32 million, a year-on-year increase of 65 per cent.

Viet Nam imports from Sudan mainly petroleum and steel products, and exports rice, coffee, seafood, garments and textiles to Sudan.

Sudan has high demand for building materials because of its booming construction sector, Hung said.

Hesham Khalil Mohamed Fadlelmula, head of the delegation of eight Sudanese business operating in the construction sector to Viet Nam, said the country needed to import cooling systems, wooden doors, cement, construction materials, electric equipment and other items.

With its geographic position as a gateway to Africa and the Middle East, Sudan offers opportunities for Vietnamese businesses, Hung said.

Viet Nam has signed free trade agreements with many African countries, he said, adding that trade turnover between Viet Nam and Africa reached nearly $5 billion last year.

The Vietnamese Government will continue carrying out activities to promote trade with Africa, especially with Sudan, he said.

Vietnamese firms have invested $1.2 billion in 17 projects in Africa, mainly in the oil and gas and telecommunications sectors.

The event was organised by VCCI's HCM City branch and the Sudan Embassy in Viet Nam. — VNS