The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) brought together a group of panellists who gave their advice to industry leaders from around the nation at a recent workshop held in Ho Chi Minh City.
It was an effort to demystify the process, said an MoIT speaker.
The workshop was meant to energize and educate both government and business leaders on the tools available to reach out to the billions of new customers around the globe and grow the industry and create profitable jobs.
He said the industry has been largely stifled in its attempts over the past few years to grow exports beyond the Asian region.
In 2015, official statistics show shipments to the Asian region accounted for nearly 75% of the total rice exports for the year, with China the largest export market followed by the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia in descending order of market size.
Commercial Counsellor in Beijing Bui Huy Hoang in turn said that since 2012, China has been the largest customer of the rice industry, purchasing some 54% of the nation’s last year rice exports.
For 2016 Hoang said he expects China’s purchases to increase modestly.
Vietnam’s Commercial Counsellor to the Republic of Korea (RoK), Chu Thang Trung, walked those in attendance through the maze of new policies related to rice exports to the RoK, which he concluded work in Vietnam’s favour for increased sales in 2016.
He said he was hopeful that businesses in the industry would take advantage of the new regulations and use them in conjunction with the Vietnam – RoK free trade agreement to boost sales in the market.
In addition, Commercial Counsellor Trung, pointed out how Vietnam embassies can essentially ‘be hired’ as an agent for a business, not only in the RoK but in embassies around the globe.
Nguyen Xuan Hong, deputy director of the Department of Industry and Trade in the Mekong Delta province of Long An, dilated at length in regards to the information needs of businesses pertaining to international markets.
Nguyen Trung Kien, chairman of Gentraco Joint Stock Company in Can Tho City called on the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) and the Vietnamese Commercial Counsellors in Latin America to provide information on quality control and food safety rules, among other things.
They should also furnish legal, accounting and consulting services for domestic businesses in instances of trade disputes and overcoming technical barriers, as well as potential competitors, he underscored.
Huynh Minh Hue, general secretary of the association, suggested Vietnam should hold back some of its higher quality rice and reserve it specifically for sale to trade partners other than those in the traditional key markets in Asia.
He also highlighted the need for the industry to ensure quality and prices, as well as sale promotions to enter markets for which Vietnam has signed FTAs.
Last but not least, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh urged the Import-Export Agency to cooperate with the Association to help rice exports, with a special focus on developing the key markets.
In addition, he said their help could be beneficial in marketing in new countries and handling international trade disputes as well as educational campaigns to enhance rice exporters’ and farmers’ understanding of FTAs.
