Viet Nam is aiming to build a transparent and legal wood industry to support exports of timber products and bolster the domestic timber manufacturing industry.
Starting from June 1, Viet Nam could export only verified legal timber products to the European markets as the VPA/FLECT would officially enter into force.
Vietnamese and Cambodian officials, business executives and experts discussed measures to enhance co-operation in the trade and management of timber and timber products at conference in HCM City on Monday.
The export turnover of Vietnamese timber and timber products is estimated to hit US$8 billion this year, 10 per cent higher than the target, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The export of wood and timber products is forecast to bring in US$8 billion in 2017, posting a 17 per cent year-on-year increase and surpassing the target of $7-7.5 billion set earlier this year.
Viet Nam expects a year-on-year growth of 10 per cent in export of
timber and timber products this year, said a Viet Nam Wood and Forestry
Product Association official.
With the EU, US and Australia making import conditions more stringent,
especially with regard to timber sources, Vietnamese exporters of timber
products have to acquiesce to buyers'' demand there, an industry meeting
heard yesterday.
Viet Nam accelerated exports to the US market over the past eight
months, resulting in a record trade surplus of US$11.68 billion,
according to the General Department of Customs.