Increase the effectiveness of cross-border trade promotion activities

Diversified solutions to promote cross-border trade

Next November, the 2024 China-Vietnam Border Economic, Trade and Tourism Fair (Hong Ha) will be held with the theme: "Shared development, cooperation and mutual benefit" at the Hekou International Exhibition Center, Hong Ha District, Yunnan Province (China). This is one of the major cross-border trade promotion events organized to bring Vietnamese goods to the "billion-people" Chinese market. It is expected that there will be 500 - 600 standard booths arranged in 2 areas. The Chinese booth area has an area of ​​5,500 m2, the Vietnamese booth area has an area of ​​3,800 m2.

The Vietnam-China International Trade Fair is an important trade promotion event to boost exports through border gates with China (Photo: Moit)

This is one of the major trade promotion events to be held this year to promote the export of goods through the border gate system to the Chinese market. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, with more than 5,000 km of border shared with China, Laos and Cambodia, located in the center of Southeast Asia, Vietnam possesses many advantages and strategic conditions to expect to become a trading center in the region, becoming an important trade gateway connecting neighboring countries and countries in the Southeast Asian region in particular with developed economies in the world in general.

Up to now, the scale of goods exchange through all border gates along the entire land border has reached tens of billions of USD each year, contributing significantly to the growth of bilateral trade, to the socio-economic development of border provinces and especially helping to improve the material and spiritual life of people in border areas. Therefore, trade promotion activities in border gate areas have always been focused on by ministries, branches and localities.

Speaking to reporters of the Industry and Trade Newspaper, Mr. Le Hoang Tai - Deputy Director of the Trade Promotion Department - Ministry of Industry and Trade said that border trade activities have always received great attention from the Government and ministries and branches.

For example, Vietnam and China always focus on organizing alternating pairs of Vietnam-China trade fairs. This activity has been carried out for 20 years and is very effective. The number of Vietnamese and Chinese enterprises participating in the fair is very large.

Only the 2023 Vietnam-China Trade Fair held in Lao Cai with the theme "Promoting the role of a bridge between Lao Cai and Yunnan - promoting comprehensive cooperation and sustainable development" attracted 529 standard booths and 88 exhibition areas from nearly 300 enterprises from 50 provinces and cities in the country, 8 provinces and cities in China and 8 other countries to participate. Thereby, a series of trade contracts were signed after the fair to promote exports to China.

Border trade fairs attract a large number of businesses

Previously, the Vietnam - China International Trade Fair (Lang Son) 2022 also attracted the participation of more than 100 enterprises and cooperatives operating in various fields from over 40 provinces and cities in the country and China. According to the Department of Industry and Trade of Lang Son, the fair created opportunities for more than 60 OCOP products of Lang Son to be promoted and introduced to consumers and economic organizations at home and abroad. In particular, through the fair, 20 cooperation contracts for the consumption of Lang Son products were signed, such as: Contract for the consumption of OCOP products between Vinh Kim Cooperative (Chau Thanh district, Tien Giang province) and Ha Chau Lang Son One Member Co., Ltd. (Lang Son city); signed a cooperation agreement to consume black jelly products between Duc Quy Production and Import-Export Investment Company Limited (Trang Dinh district) and Minh Duong Vietnam Biochemical Company Limited (belonging to Minh Duong Biochemical Group - Nong Can Guangxi, China)...

In addition, for some more in-depth fairs, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and localities have organized Vietnamese delegations to attend. In particular, at thematic fairs in Kunming, Nanning, etc., the Vietnamese business delegation is always the delegation with the largest number of members attending.

Or for Laos and Cambodia, there are many fairs of Vietnamese localities in the National Trade Promotion Program that are supported with funding. Local fairs with Laos and Cambodia such as fairs in An Giang, Quang Tri, Quang Binh have attracted a large number of Vietnamese and Cambodian businesses.

Further improve export efficiency through border gates

Despite many efforts, trade activities through border gates still face many difficulties. Mr. Le Hoang Tai pointed out that to develop border trade, infrastructure must be good, that is, the system of border economic zones and border gate economies must be developed to suit the needs of developing border trade.

Regarding trade promotion, although many activities are organized, trade promotion is not enough and other issues such as logistics, import-export procedure management, taxes, etc. need to be solved.

“ There are many trade promotion events being held, but I think that to improve them further, it requires coordination between ministries such as the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Transport, relevant departments, local authorities, etc. to increase the introduction of goods to neighboring markets and increase import and export turnover,” said Mr. Le Hoang Tai.

According to the Vietnam Trade Office Branch in Nanning (China), Vietnam and China are both members of the ACFTA and RCEP agreements, so most agricultural products exported to China enjoy a preferential import tax rate of 0%.

However, the border gate infrastructure and the traffic infrastructure connecting to the border gate have not been developed synchronously, along with the trading habits of the owners, leading to the concentration of export goods, especially agricultural products, in certain border gate areas, potentially causing congestion risks during the peak harvest season. Along with that, the negotiation and signing of the Protocol for some types of fruit officially exported to China under traditional trade is still slow, so 100% quarantine must still be carried out during the customs clearance process, reducing efficiency and increasing customs clearance time.

Therefore, enterprises need to proactively cooperate with import partners in building and promoting the image of their enterprises and their key products in addition to mastering and meeting the requirements of quarantine and quality of the Chinese market. In addition, proactively build a direct communication channel with Trade Offices on the basis of understanding the export needs of local enterprises.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/gia-tang-hieu-qua-hoat-dong-xuc-tien-thuong-mai-qua-bien-gioi-342556.html