Vietnam – Algeria – Senegal matchmaking seminar to take place next month

Co-hosted by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Department of Trade Promotion (Vietrade) and Asia-Africa Market Department, the event will take place from April 5-6, connecting three main locations – Hanoi (Vietnam), Algiers (Algeria), and Dakar (Senegal).

It is expected to provide an opportunity for the three countries to introduce about their strengths, strengthen cooperation in trade and investment, and connect their agricultural and food producers amid the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s exports to Algeria totalled around US$150 million last year with main export items including coffee (US$94 million), fishery products, pepper, rice, cashew nut, aluminium and other metals, chemicals, fabrics, footwear and machinery. Vietnam’s imports from the African country, mostly chicken feet, scrap paper, cattle feed and pharmaceuticals, only valued about US$3 million.

Meanwhile, in 2019, Vietnam shipped to Senegal more than US$52.5 million worth of goods, mainly rice, pepper, confectionery, textile and garment, fruits and vegetables, fishery products, vehicles and parts. The Southeast Asian country spent some US$41.3 million on imported goods, mostly raw cashew nut, cotton, fishery products and cattle feed, from Senegal.

Last year, due to impacts of COVID-19, Vietnam’s shipments to Senegal plunged to US$39 million, nearly 38.5% of which came from rice. The African nation is in need of 800,000 to 1 million tonnes of imported rice annually for domestic use and re-export.