Workers load tiles for exports at CMC JSC at Thuy Van Industrial Zone in Phu Tho Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Vu Sinh

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The newly-approved 2015 national trade promotion programme, worth VND100 billion (US$4.65 million), has been highly acclaimed by businesses, bankers and localities across the country, a conference in Ha Noi heard late last week.

The programme covers 212 projects, involving expansion of markets at home and abroad, trade promotion in economic zones and training for businesses, co-operatives and marketing organisations.

It will also focus on the domestic market, including establishing distribution channels in rural, mountainous and border areas, as part of efforts to push the campaign "Vietnamese should prioritise use of Vietnamese goods."

During the review of the 2014 national trade promotion programme and launching of tasks for 2015, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai urged firms to seize the opportunities offered by the upcoming free trade agreements with the European Union, South Korea, the Union of Customs of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, among other deals.

Deputy Director of the Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) Ta Hoang Linh said the national trade promotion programme in 2014 made some encouraging achievements in this context even as global and domestic economies continued to encounter many challenges.

The programme supported the domestic firms effectively in not only exploiting the local market but also the traditional outlets such as the US, the EU, Japan and Korea, besides seeking new markets, Linh said.

More than 7,680 domestic enterprises received help to participate in trade promotion activities through the programme in 2014, according to Vietrade's statistics.

Trade fairs held under the scheme attracted more than 2.21 million visitors, with the total value of signed deals, memorandums of understanding and sales revenue reaching above $1.89billion.

Last year, the State distributed VND110.13 billion (approximately $5.12 million) to the programme to implement support activities for domestic enterprises. — VNS