This workshop was attended by negotiators from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance of Vietnam and the UK's Department for International Trade and the British Standard Institute, along with a large number of enterprises of Vietnam and the United Kingdom.

Mr. Luong Hoang Thai, Director General, Multilateral Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade delivers opening remarks

After nearly a year of implementation of the UKVFTA Agreement and in the context of the complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic, this workshop is an opportunity to further strengthen the support from both sides' competent authorities to the business community of Viet Nam and the UK. At this workshop, experts from the two countries focused on updating the implementation of the UKVFTA Agreement, and providing detailed instructions on the commitments of Viet Nam and the UK in the UKVFTA related to import and export activities of goods (including the tariff reduction schedules, instructions to look up import tariffs, commitments on rules of origin and technical barriers to trade).

Mrs. Emily Hamblin, Consul General HCMC & Country Director of International Trade Department in Viet Nam delivers welcoming remarks

At this workshop, Vietnamese and UK businesses also had the opportunity to share about the practice of taking advantage of the UKVFTA, as well as identify their difficulties and obstacles in the implementation of this Agreement. On that basis, experts from Vietnam and the UK had an effective discussion, answering many questions and concerns of businesses of the two sides, thereby helping business to properly and fully understand the related commitments in this Agreement.

In the coming time, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue to coordinate with relevant agencies of Viet Nam and the UK to organize intensive training workshops in different fields to further enhance the ability to utilize opportunities from the UKVFTA for the practical benefits of businesses and people of the two countries.