Combining online, traditional methods

The year 2021 is considered an important milestone for Vietnamese fruits with lychees and longan exported for the first time directly to Western European countries, such as the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and the UK. In particular, 15 tonnes of frozen durians from the Uu Dam Import-Export Company Limited exported to Australia were sold out in just two days. The positive results were attributed to the efforts of units, including Vietnamese trade offices abroad.

Vietnamese lychees on the shelves of Singaporean supermarkets

Vietnamese Trade Counselor in Belgium and the EU Tran Ngoc Quan said the Ministry of Industry and Trade has directed Vietnamese trade offices abroad to focus on finding output for agricultural products. Therefore, they have strengthened advertisement and introduction of Vietnamese agricultural products in supermarket systems, distribution channels and wholesale markets. In addition, they have organized online trade promotion activities.

Nguyen Phu Hoa, head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia, said that since the outbreak of the pandemic, the office has promoted digitalization under the direction of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, including launch of an app to connect Vietnamese businesses and Australian partners and organization of large-scale online meetings.

The Vietnam National Brands Week 2021 - Hybrid expo on Halal and processed food products - was held in Singapore in late August in both face-to-face and online forms. Vietnamese Commercial Counselor in Singapore Tran Thu Quynh said this was the first event of its kind held in Singapore with the goal of enhancing awareness among the Singaporean business community and consumers of Vietnam’s national brands. The expo was a concerted effort by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to support Vietnamese businesses in strengthening their international promotion activities and seeking export orders amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Quynh said.

Digital trade promotion ecosystem

Online trade promotion is a suitable and necessary solution during the Covid-19 pandemic. Under the direction of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, trade offices and relevant units have flexibly deployed the application of information technology. The success of a series of online trade promotion events is clear proof of these efforts.

Vietnamese goods in Germany’s Dong Xuan Center

To improve efficiency of trade promotion activities, the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade is completing the VECOBIZ ecosystem, a platform that integrates trade promotion activities to serve businesses.

Vu Ba Phu, director of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency, said the ecosystem allows users to search for domestic and international fairs and exhibitions, promote trade connections and manage trade promotion conferences and events. Businesses can use the platform to find customers and exchange information.

The platform not only gathers professional service providers, but also supports import-export businesses in searching for banks and insurance companies, Phu said.