Workers process shrimps for export at the Tho Quang Seafood Processing and Export Company in Da Nang. As the country negotiates key international and regional trade agreements, Viet Nam should ensure their benefits are shared more equally, an Australian expert has advised. — VNA/VNS Photo An Dang

HA NOI (Biz Hub)— Viet Nam should ensure more equitable distribution of global integration benefits as it negotiates key international and regional agreements, an Australian trade official said yesterday.

Michael Wilson of Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said at a meeting that Viet Nam should also ensure that negotiations happened in tandem with setting up a proper public-investment framework and appropriate mechanisms for market operations.

He said that since Viet Nam joined the World Trade Organisation in 2007, the governments of Australia and Britain had launched a technical assistance programme titled Beyond the World Trade Organisation, to help Viet Nam manage ongoing economic integration and the transition to a market economy.

At the meeting, which summarised the programme's results and lessons learned, Wilson highlighted its achievements. These included policy development and implementation, improved linkage between domestic and international markets and stronger voices for business associations.

Wilson said that as part of efforts to strengthen the market economy in Viet Nam, the programme had also contributed to the formulation and revision of key legislation, including the revised Land Law and Law on Prices.

It also included projects delivering supports to grassroot levels, including farmers and household businesses.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Cam Tu said that the opportunities that international integration could bring had led Viet Nam to seek support from donors and partners.

The first phase of the Beyond WTO programme from 2007-08 helped the Government of Viet Nam develop an action plan and develop high level action plans.

The second phase of the programme from 2009 until this month, implemented key activities of the plan.

So far, 48 projects related to different fields such as law making, exporting and supporting farmers, have disbursed US$11.67 million or 90 per cent of about $13 million in approved donor support. This benefited ministries, Government agencies, business associations and also enterprises and farmers.

Deputy Minister Tu said Viet Nam wanted to speed up the improvement of its legal framework, especially areas involved in international integration. — VNS