The European Trade Policy and Investment Support Project (EU-MUTRAP) has helped Viet Nam further integrate into the global and regional trading systems while promoting Viet Nam-EU trade and investment relations.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong made this statement at the closing ceremony of the project in Ha Noi on Tuesday.

Lauding contributions of the project, he expressed his belief that a new phase of co-operation would be open for both sides with numerous projects to fully tap benefits of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Bui Huy Son, director of the EU-MUTRAP Management Board, said that after five years of implementation, the project had fulfilled all of its set plans with 130 technical support activities, 74 reports and research documents, and 300 seminars and training courses in 31 cities and provinces.

Through the EU-MUTRAP’s six sub-projects, support of the European Union (EU) reached handicraft small and medium enterprises, helping them develop brand names and sustainable designs as well as improve their business results.

The project also worked to branch out the support industry, enhance capacity for the leather shoe sector and build a value chain for Long An and Binh Thuan’s dragon fruits.

Unlike previous projects backed by the EU, EU-MUTRAP endorsed improvements in investment, environment and labour policies and shifted from supporting negotiations of international trade deals to supporting the implementation of international trade commitments.

Specific support activities were provided for Vietnamese seafood, garment, leather shoes, coffee and cocoa, Son added.

Ambassador Bruno Angelet, head of the delegation of the European Union to Viet Nam, said that bilateral trade between Viet Nam and the EU had increased significantly after the EVFTA took effect.

Thanks to EU-MUTRAP, Vietnamese exporters were updated to the latest market information and knowledge about food safety for fruit, vegetable, seafood and honey.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh, who is head of the Government negotiation team for the EVFTA, said owing to the proactive involvement of the ministry, the co-ordination of European Union Delegation to Viet Nam, the partners and the efforts of the project management unit, the EU-MUTRAP had put superb finishing touches to the MUTRAP canvas, setting the standard for an effective co-operation between Viet Nam and the EU.

The EU-MUTRAP was officially launched at the end of 2012, funded by the EU and implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. After more than five years of implementation, the EU-MUTRAP has successfully accomplished its assigned missions, implemented almost 130 technical assistance activities, publishing 74 reports and research as well as organising nearly 300 workshops and training courses in 31 provinces and cities with the participation of more than 23,700 people.

The project’s website welcomed over 15 million visits and 100,000 download of materials. It also provided IT office devices and development of application software to 20 departments under ministries, agencies and universities. — VNS