Vietnam promotes trade cooperation opportunities in the Netherlands

Addressing the conference, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands Pham Viet Anh noted that economic-trade relations between Vietnam and the Netherlands are growing considerably, gradually becoming an exemplary cooperation model between Vietnam and other European countries. Despite the negative impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, bilateral trade exchanges remained active through various online activities.

“As the Netherlands serves as a gateway to Europe, the Vietnamese Embassy actively coordinates with ministries and sectors to support Vietnamese businesses in exploring and finding partners in the market,” he affirmed.

In his speech, Vu Ba Phu, head of the Trade Promotion Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, stressed that local firms are keen to sound out opportunities in the Dutch market.

“With representatives of 22 businesses, specialising mainly in the field of agricultural product and food processing, attending the conference, we do hope such trade connectivity will create opportunities for businesses of the two sides to meet and discuss cooperation possibilities,” said Phu.

According to the trade official, Vietnam boasts a competitive advantage in terms of exporting products to Europe, especially the Netherlands, following the enforcement of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) in August, 2020. In line with this, the seaport system in Rotterdam in the Netherlands will help to facilitate Vietnamese exports to countries throughout the bloc.

Joost Vrancken Peeters, chairman of the Netherlands-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce, shared the success stories in import-export activities with Vietnam and introduced quality requirements aimed at ensuring Vietnamese export items, including farm products, are accepted in the Dutch market.

He stated that Vietnamese businesses still lack information about markets overseas and they require a partner who is a distributor in the Netherlands who fully knows the needs and tastes of local consumers, as well as the relationships that exist with local businesses.

During the gathering, several Vietnamese owned businesses operating in the Netherlands said they are ready to cooperate alongside new partners in an effort to distribute Vietnamese products at retail chains in this market.

Vietnamese businesses attending the conference also displayed major export products and exchanges opportunities with Dutch businesses at the event.