The Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) said Myanmar people are currently very interested in Vietnamese products.

A number of Vietnam-origin goods have made inroads into the Myanmar market such as plastic household products, apparel, footwear, electric and electronic devices, construction materials, stationery and food. Some Vietnamese brands have gained a firm foothold there, including Kangaroo, Happy Cook, Dien Quang, Lioa, Visan, and Trung Nguyen, the centre noted. 
 
The opening ceremony of the Ho Chi Minh City Expo 2015 (Photo: VNA)
ITPC Director Pham Thiet Hoa said although the low-end consumption segment makes up the majority of the Myanmar market, the middle and high-end segments are being expanded thanks to the country’s market opening. He added that Myanmar consumers’ taste is also affected by customs and religions, and they prioritise shopping for goods for daily use and prefer products with discounts or promotions. 

At the workshop, the ITPC announced that the Ho Chi Minh City Expo 2016 will take place in Myanmar’s Yangon city from April 1 – 4. The event will offer information on the trade, services and tourism of Ho Chi Minh City, and will have specific exhibition areas for hi-tech agriculture and building materials. 

Meanwhile, municipal officials and businesspersons will conduct a market survey in Yangon and Mandalay cities from March 31 to April 5. The ITPC will also organise a workshop to provide Vietnamese companies with information on investment opportunities and tax and customs policies in Myanmar. 

Vietnam exported over US$378.5 million worth of goods to Myanmar in 2015. Bilateral trade is still modest compared to their trade with other ASEAN countries.