Export goods are loaded at Cai Lan Port in the northern province of Quang Ninh. Concerns of Vietnamese exporters were discussed to promote sustainable export growth during a trade fair yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Danh Lam

HA NOI (VNS) — The Viet Nam Export Promotion Forum 2013 was held yesterday at Giang Vo Trade Fair and Exhibition Center in Ha Noi by the Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE) – Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), following the framework from the 23rd Viet Nam Expo 2013.

Themed "Promoting sustainable export development," the forum focused on exchanging content of common concern for Vietnamese exporters, including market updates, impacts of new policies on exports, and experience sharing in trade and export promotion, in order to help enterprises boost export efficiency.

Opening the Forum, VIETRADE's Director General Do Thang Hai emphasised that in 2012, despite economic difficulties, Viet Nam's foreign trade had gained remarkable achievements. Total export turnover was at its highest ever level of US$114.57 billion, representing an increase of 18.2 per cent compared to 2011, helping the country reach a trade surplus of $780 million for the first time in 20 years.

Viet Nam profited $29.69 billion from exports in the first quarter of this year, a year-on-year increase of 19.7 per cent.

At the forum, local and international experts analysed export opportunities brought by free trade agreements (FTA), especially the Viet Nam-EU FTA.

Viet Nam has so far signed eight FTAs with other countries that account for 25 per cent of total global consumption.

Tran Thanh Hai, deputy head of the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said FTAs play an important role in boosting Vietnamese exports as they help increase the competitive capacity of Vietnamese products in big markets.

However, experts said Vietnamese businesses failed to capitalise on the opening of markets that FTAs bring about, saying many neither understand nor pay due attention to tariff preferences, thus reducing their competitiveness overseas.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is speeding up the negotiation of FTAs, considering it a key solution for increasing exports from now until 2020.

In his presentation, Dao Ngoc Chuong, Deputy Director of MoIT's Asia-Pacific Department provided an overview on trade and expectation of Viet Nam's trade with the region in the coming time with special attention given to measures to reduce the excess of imports over exports in major markets.

Also at the Forum, Dao Thu Trang, an expert from Germany's Industry and Trade Office in Viet Nam had a detailed presentation on the German market, business chances and necessary attention that needed to be taken regarding this market. — VNS