Commercial counsellors: An information bridge

In order to help Vietnamese enterprises and commercial counsellors understand their mutual demands in the integration process, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) has cooperated with the Ministry of Trade to organise three meetings for businesses in northern, central and southern regions with Vietnamese counsellors working in other countries. The meeting held in Hanoi on February 7, 2007 attracted the attendance of around 400 businesses and 50 Vietnamese commercial counsellors overseas.

 

Deputy Trade Minister Phan The Rue said Vietnam ended the year 2006 with spectacular achievements in all three fields, namely domestic trade, foreign trade and international economic integration. Outstandingly, the successful hosting of the APEC events, the decade-long conclusion of WTO negotiations, the high GDP growth of over 8.1 per cent, the export turnover of more than US$40 billion, the foreign direct investment capital of US$10.2 billion and the official development assistance of US$4.42 billion among other achievements are the clearest evidences. To this matter, Mr Hoang Van Dung, First Vice Chairman of VCCI, highly appreciated the efforts of commercial counsellors in the conclusion of WTO admission talks as well as assistances to domestic enterprises in penetrating and expanding foreign markets.

 

Attending businesses said that they wish Vietnamese commercial counsellors in other countries would be the most reliable information consulting centre to help domestic businesses to determine strategic overseas partners as well as potential exporting markets. Mr Vu Duy Thai, Chairman of the Hanoi Commercial and Industrial Association, said Vietnamese trade offices overseas have a lot of advantages in assisting Vietnamese companies such as the deep knowledge of the target markets and the good relationship with local competent organs, especially when the market-approaching capacities of Vietnamese companies in target countries remain limited.

 

Mr Dong Duc Cuong, a representative of Vinh Phuc Province Department of Trade, pointed out a loose relationship between domestic firms and trade offices. Cuong explained that Vietnamese commercial agencies located in other countries have to date only focused on assisting big exporters, FDI firms or businesses in large cities, not small and medium enterprises or businesses in poor provinces. This, according to Cuong, limits the export capacity of many businesses, especially small and medium ones.

 

At this meeting, VCCI also raised three requirements needed by domestic firms and wanted commercial counsellors to give more assistance to Vietnamese firms. First, commercial counsellors should pay attention to providing market information: partners, customers, market tastes and legal issues. Second, they should promote trade for Vietnamese firms: opening more seminars, trade fairs and business introductory ceremonies. Third, they should provide advice to economic policies, bilateral and multilateral commercial development policies of the Ministry of Trade, VCCI and domestic business associations and enterprises.