Meet & Greet strengthens Vietnam – Belgium links
VOV.VN - A "Meet & Greet" programme designed to create a network of Vietnamese and Belgian businesses has presented ample opportunities for the two countries’ businesses, especially those specializing in food and beverage, to strengthen cooperation, said Andries Gryffroy, first vice president of the Belgian Senate.
Gryffroy made the statement during the "Meet & Greet" event which was co-hosted by the Vietnam Trade Office in collaboration with the Belgian-Vietnamese Alliance (BVA) and the Federation of the Belgian Food Industry (FEVIA) on October 18.
The senator emphasised that with the benefits brought about by the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), Belgian enterprises have contributed to ensuring stable trade exchanges with and improving the investment climate in Vietnam.
He went on to affirm that the trade deal has created a wealth of opportunities specifically for the import and export of Vietnamese and Belgian goods, especially with regard to Vietnamese agricultural products which have enjoyed comparative advantages thanks to tax incentives on offer.
In response, Vu Ba Phu, director of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade), revealed that Vietnamese businesses participating in the event include those operating in the fields of processed food, agricultural products, garments and textiles, footwear, and furniture, all of which are competitive products within the EU market thanks to tariff reductions under the EVFTA.
The event has provided an ideal venue for Vietnamese firms to meet European partners and boost the export of their products following a two year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.
Within the framework of the scheme, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Nguyen Van Thao held a direct exchange with business representatives, stating that the EU makes up a potentially lucrative market for Vietnamese exporters due to its huge market of 450 million consumers and a GDP growth rate reaching over EUR16 trillion.
Furthermore, the strategic partnership agreement relating to agriculture between Vietnam and Belgium signed in 2018 has also provided fresh impetus for Vietnamese agricultural products to enter the Belgian market.
During the event, Vietnamese business representatives were provided with information about the EU's import and export regulations, as well as the consumption needs of Belgians and Europeans, in order to export suitable products in the future.
