VGP - The Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry on December 7 hosted a seminar on economic and trade relations between Việt Nam and Middle East countries, including Saudi Arabia in the southern province of Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu.
Addressing the event, Lê Thái Hòa, Deputy Head of the Department of African, Western and Southern Asian Markets under the Ministry of Industry and Trade said that since 2006, Việt Nam and Saudi Arabia have signed many cooperative framework agreements on economics, agriculture, animal husbandry and aquaculture, as well as tax avoidance, energy security, investment and labor agreements.
He added that Việt Nam has established of diplomatic ties with all Middle East countries, which hold potentials of trade, labor, oil and gas, science-technology and tourism. This will serve as a foundation for Việt Nam to boost economic and trade cooperation with the region.
Việt Nam has to date exported aquatic products, textiles, fiber, footwear, steel products, timber and wooden furniture, computers and electronic spare parts, mobile phones, rubber, handicrafts, farm produce and machinery to Arab Saudi Arabia and Middle East countries while imported liquefied gas, chemicals, fertilizers, cattle feed and raw materials from these countries.
However, Vietnamese businesses still face with challenges in this market such as bureaucratic administrative regulations, entry visa, unstable political and security situation and lack of market information, Mr. Hòa said.
Experts provided the participants with an insight into the culture, and communication and business styles in the Middle East. They also presented guidelines to get Halal certificate for products which is essential for businesses to enter Islamic markets.
Việt Nam now has Halal certification agencies in both Hà Nội and Hồ Chí Minh City./.