Seminar discusses digitisation in trade promotion activities

Upon addressing the event, Vu Ba Phu, director of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade), emphasised that 2023 represents a pivotal year in terms of the successful implementation of the economic development plan for the 2021 to 2025 period, adding that the goal of digitising trade promotion activities and applying information technology is an important content in building a digital government, digital economy, and digital society.

Phu went on to reveal that Vietrade and the e-commerce platform Alibaba.com have successfully co-ordinated efforts to deploy several international events over recent years, with the highlight being the launch of the Vietnam National Pavilion in 2022.

This represents an ideal space in which to introduce reputable Vietnamese brands and quality products on Alibaba.com, as well as showcasing the successful stories of Vietnamese businesses when exporting their goods.

Phu therefore advised local enterprises to focus on improving product quality and competitiveness as a means of meeting stringent regulations set by foreign importers, while also co-ordinating with trade promotion organisations to develop plans aimed at seizing upon opportunities from the market, especially markets that the country has signed free trade agreements (FTAs) with.

For his part, Roger Luo, director of the Asia-Pacific region of Alibaba.com, said based on Vietnamese export data over recent years, Vietnamese goods are now at the top of the world's purchasing demand, adding that an increasing amount of foreign partners are willing to consider the nation as a leading destination for purchasing.

Most notably, products from small and medium-sized enterprises in the country have also been highlighted for the quality of finished products, export skills, as well as customer care services.

Nguyen Dinh Cung, former director of the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM), pointed out that Vietnamese exports are expected to grow by 6% this year, noting that amid global economic challenges, local businesses are required to apply new business models, especially e-commerce in their export activities as part of efforts to reduce costs.

Sharing this perspective, Vu The Tung, director of Business Development and Government Relations at Alibaba Vietnam, analysed that there are numerous challenges ahead for Vietnamese businesses this year, adding that the e-commerce platform Alibaba.com focuses on improving the overall quality of services in order to connect exporters and importers.

This will serve to provide information on consumer tastes in order to help businesses increase the overall efficiency  when participating in the e-platform.