Most Vietnamese business people continue to sell traditional products, mainly textiles and garments, to people not only in Poland but also in the Ukraine, Belarus and the Czech Republic. Other sales include shoes and frozen seafood. However, with higher purchasing power, Polish customers are turning to more expensive items.

VOV: What can they do to enhance their competitiveness?
Nguyen Van Thai: They are increasingly caring about product quality and trademark building when they import goods from Vietnam. The fact that they have established their own booths in big trade centres presents another advantage, making them less dependent on weather and market fluctuations. I think it would be a big step for Vietnamese traders to provide "high-value" products.

VOV: How do people assess trade centres run completely or partially by Vietnamese?
Nguyen Van Thai: Vietnamese people have set up a number of large trade centres in Poland. Similar ones exist in the Czech Republic and Germany but the Vietnamese in Poland were possibly the first among Vietnamese communities in Eastern Europe to build trade centres of world stature. Each centre of this kind accommodates 300-400 booths of Vietnamese sellers. Thousands of these pavilions are helping them enjoy a stable market share in Poland. It is a good idea for Vietnamese people to build trade centres in line with European standards.

VOV: Could you also elaborate on activities of the Solidarity and Friendship Association for Vietnamese in Poland?
Nguyen Van Thai: The association and its peers in Poland are furthering activities that muster the whole Vietnamese community and assist its members in stabilizing their daily lives. They also maintain support for people with difficulties in the fatherland. For example, Vietnamese residing here donated large amounts of money to help typhoon victims in Vietnam last year.

In addition, we pay attention to unofficial Vietnamese immigrants, many of whom lack information and think simply that they can easily earn money once successfully entering Poland. The reality is quite different, however. It’s really difficult for a newcomer without relatives and capital to exist and initiate business in this land.

I have seen a lot of business opportunities available in Vietnam currently. It would be very risky for a person to sell out his land and house in Vietnam to migrate to a strange country, where he can’t speak the native language, has no relatives, and has no knowledge about the culture and lifestyle.

VOV: Thank you very much!