Global economic integration helps Vietnam expand agri-products markets

Economic integration has helped Vietnamese agri-products overcome tariff barriers, especially staples such as rice and aquatic and wood products.

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) has created excellent opportunities for Vietnamese agri-products to join global supply chains, according to deputy head of the Agro Processing Market Development Authority (AgroTrade) Tran Van Cong.

It also creates a driver as well as pressure on domestic businesses to increase exports of processed products with high added values, he added.

According to Nguyen Ton Quyen, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association, other members of the CPTPP are potential export markets of the Vietnamese wood industry.

The Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Voluntary Partnership Agreement (FLEGT-VPA) between Vietnam and the EU is expected to promote export growth of wood and timber products to major European markets.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan said EU is the fourth biggest market of Vietnam, making up 13-17 percent of the country’s furniture export turnover.

Not only creating opportunities in trade of goods, integration has enabled the agriculture sector to promote the application of science and technology to improve production quality, competitiveness, technical standards and food safety and hygiene. 

Many advanced technical standards including Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices (VietGAP), ISO and HACCP in processing have been applied in Vietnam. National standards on food safety and animal and plant quarantine have been harmonised with international standards, helping the country’s’ farm produce penetrate choosy markets.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has focused on developing foreign markets, prioritising those with high export turnover, while removing barriers for export businesses and providing information on Vietnamese farm produce and production procedures to foreign customers to reinforce their trust.

Last year, the ministry spared no effort to remove difficulties for businesses in the two major markets of China and the EU.

The ministry sent working delegations to China and hosted and participated in trade promotion activities to introduce Vietnamese agri-products.

In the EU, the ministry helped businesses increase the presence of Vietnamese farm produce at supermarkets.

It also held activities to promote trade of Vietnamese farm produce in Russia, Japan, India and ASEAN countries.

VNA