Vinamit's representative in China Nguyen Thanh (left) receives the award in Beijing.— Photo Vinamit

The award, which honours firms and entrepreneurs from ASEAN member countries for their outstanding performance in the Chinese market, and contributions to economic development, environmental protection and social activities in China, was presented at a ceremony held in Beijing on January 7.

Vinamit's products, including dried jackfruit, banana, sweet potato, taro and mango, are sold in major supermarket chains and online marketing networks across China, and becoming very popular with the Chinese public.

Established in 1991, Vinamit, which is headquartered in the southern province of Binh Duong, has posted an annual average growth rate of 30 - 50 per cent.

Sales in China currently make up 60 percent of the company's export turnover.

Vinamit's products are available in a lot of Chinese supermarkets. This one is in Nanning province.— Photo VinamitVinamit's products are available in Wal-mart supermarket in Nanning City, Guangxi Province, China.— Photo Vinamit

The company has set up distribution networks in many countries and territories worldwide, such as China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, the Philippines, Japan and the United States, among others.

Meanwhile, Le Duc Duy, Vinamit's commercial manager, told Biz Hub that his company was doing well in China with a year-on-year growth of 15-20 per cent in revenues.

In 2013, the Beijing Commercial Court ruled in favour of Duc Thanh, saying the Vinamit brand had sole ownership for dried fruit that was being sold by a rival Chinese firm.

The council also presented awards to Chinese companies and businessmen who have successfully established themselves in the ASEAN market.

Within the framework of the ceremony, a trade promotion conference between Hunan province and Fangcheng Gang city of Guangxi province, and the ten-member ASEAN group, was held to promote the Chinese city's potential for cooperation.

ASEAN is now Hunan's third largest trade partner and second largest importer. Presently, 337 Hunan businesses are operating in ASEAN member countries, with a total investment of 1.4 billion USD.

According to Jiang Xiuqian, Fangcheng Gang's vice mayor, China will focus on developing border areas in the next three decades.

To this end, the Chinese Government has issued a range of preferential policies to create more opportunities for China and ASEAN countries to work together.

Entering the "diamond decade", ASEAN and China have set a target of increasing their trade to $1 trillion in 2020.—VNS