Vo Thị Ngoc Diep, commercial counselor and head of Vietnam Trade Office in the Netherlands, shared that the Netherlands has become Vietnam’s largest investor and second-largest export trading partner in Europe.

On the other hand, Vietnam is one of the Netherlands' leading important trading partners in Asia and is among the 20 largest suppliers of goods to the Netherlands.

Since its entry into force on August 1, the EVFTA has brought great opportunities for enterprises of both sides, with the Netherlands considered a gateway for Vietnamese goods to enter the EU market.

Furthermore, agriculture is considered one of the sectors that has benefited the most from the EVFTA. In addition, there remains plenty of room for agricultural exports to the Dutch market.

The main Vietnamese agricultural products to the Netherlands and the EU market such as seafood, rice, vegetables, and fruits enjoyed preferential tax rates right after the EVFTA came into effect.

In fact, the export turnover of the above items to the Netherlands witnessed a sharp increase in the 2020 - 2022 period. In particular, in 2022, coffee exports recorded impressive 170% growth, vegetables and fruits by 48%, rice up by 28%, seafood up 18%, and pepper up 10%.

However, the Netherlands and the EU are both demanding markets with a number of regulations and high standards for goods in each industry that Vietnamese enterprises need to meet and fully comply with. It is therefore difficult for domestic enterprises to meet their standards, especially for agricultural products.

Due to these factors, Vietnamese export businesses must prioritise compliance with the Dutch market’s regulations, not to mention the increasing number of green and clean criteria which EU member countries set to protect local consumers and minimise environmental impacts.

In addition, packaging and label designs and product information displays that suit the tastes of Dutch consumers are also very important.

According to the Vietnam Trade Office in the Netherlands, last year Vietnam exported goods worth nearly US$13 billion to this market, up 26.89%, while its imports reached US$784 million, up 17.6%.

However, its export earnings in January fetched only US$1.04 billion, down 10.1% month on month and down 0.8% year on year. Experts said, this decrease is not alarming as the two countries still have many opportunities for growth.

Vietnam Customs reports that the computers, electronic products, and component group took the lead in terms of export turnover to the Dutch market in the period with US$273.6 million, down 24.6% month on month , but up 20.9% year on year. The machinery, equipment, tools, and spare part group ranked second with a turnover of US$177.7 million, up 9.3% month on month and up 16.2% year on year.

Other export items recording an increase in export turnover during the reviewed period include coffee, up 99.5%; cameras, camcorders and components, up 43.7%; and rubber, up 38.8%.

Vietnam promotes trade cooperation opportunities in the Netherlands

VOV.VN - The Ministry of Industry and Trade recently hosted a trade promotion conference in the Netherlands to sound out trade cooperation opportunities and introduce the potential for local firms in the market.