Effectiveness of Vietnam trade promotion activities

Activities to connect and support Malaysian businesses to conduct surveys in Vietnam not only promote trade but also support investment cooperation between Vietnam and Malaysia.

Connecting activities and market surveys are continuously organized.

Seriously implementing the direction of the Ministry of Industry and Trade in supporting and connecting businesses of Vietnam and Malaysia to cooperate and expand investment and business, on March 14 and 15, the Vietnam Trade Office in Malaysia coordinated and invited a delegation of Malaysian businesses, including Digital AI KeyAD Media Asia Sen. Bhd. and the Malaysia-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce (MVCC) to participate in the program "Meeting 2025: Lao Cai - Center for connecting economic trade between Vietnam and ASEAN countries with the Southwest region of China".

The program was organized by the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in coordination with the Lao Cai Department of Finance in Lao Cai with the aim of helping businesses and investors in the ASEAN region learn about the development potential of the border economic zone in Lao Cai.

On March 15, businesses and many investors visited and surveyed the Kim Thanh International Road Border Gate No. 2 and Ban Vuoc Border Gate (Bat Xat).

On March 15, businesses and many investors visited and surveyed the Kim Thanh International Road Border Gate No. 2 and Ban Vuoc Border Gate (Bat Xat).

Mr. Le Phu Cuong (second from left) is participating in supporting Malaysian businesses to come to Vietnam to learn about the market and trade cooperation opportunities.

Mr. Le Phu Cuong - Commercial Counselor, Vietnam Trade Office in Malaysia said that the field survey not only helps foreign investors and enterprises in general but also helps Malaysian enterprises and partners in particular to have more information about the detailed planning and development potential of the border gate system in Lao Cai province. Thereby, enhancing investment and business cooperation opportunities between enterprises of Vietnam and Malaysia.

Also according to Mr. Le Phu Cuong, during this working trip to Vietnam, Malaysian enterprises as well as the Malaysia-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce (MVCC) had a working session with the Lao Cai Trade and Investment Promotion Center on supporting the export of the province's typical agricultural products to the Malaysian market.

At the meeting, Commercial Counselor Le Phu Cuong introduced to Malaysian partners the potential for cooperation between Vietnam in general and Lao Cai province in particular in the field of agricultural products.

With a population of 100 million and a young workforce, Vietnam has been successful in its agricultural export plan with many strategic items such as rice, coffee and many types of high-quality fresh fruits. These are also the main export items of Vietnam and Malaysia has demand for.

Regarding Lao Cai province alone, according to preliminary statistics, Lao Cai is one of the provinces with many OCOP products with about 205 OCOP products of 3 stars or higher; of which, there are 10 4-star products, 195 3-star products with a number of 100 subjects. In recent times, in order to promote the province's typical products, Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee as well as departments and branches have increased promotion and trade promotion through domestic and foreign fair and exhibition programs; at the same time, inviting foreign business delegations to come to study and survey for cooperation and business.

“Hopefully, through this working session, Malaysian enterprises as well as the Malaysia-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce will be able to choose many potential products that can be cooperated with, ” Mr. Le Phu Cuong hoped and affirmed that the trade office always accompanies enterprises, provinces and cities in the country in finding partners and connecting, helping enterprises penetrate the Malaysian market and sharing the common goal of bringing Vietnamese goods to the world.

Effectiveness of trade promotion programs

Notably, during this business trip to Vietnam, Malaysian businesses also requested the trade office to support and connect visits and work with businesses exporting processed food and beverages, especially products with Halal certification, in the Hanoi area from March 17 to 19.

Trade Office supports Malaysian distribution and retail business delegation to survey and work in northern provinces and cities

Referring to cooperation in exporting Halal products, Counselor Le Phu Cuong noted that in addition to the prerequisite of the Muslim market, which is Halal standards, Vietnamese products are increasingly achieving higher quality, packaging, labels with full and eye-catching information, with QR codes for lookup, meeting the requirements of customers. In addition, Vietnamese products are constantly innovating, always innovating in technology to create competitive advantages.

Examples include dry pho and dry vermicelli products of Vietnam Agricultural and Food Import-Export Joint Stock Company under the brand name VAFOOD, using advanced Japanese freeze-drying technology to create products that retain the same flavor as fresh products or cashews with many new flavors such as honey, coffee, garlic and chili of Hot Anuts Limited Company.

" Up to now, there are only about 1,000 enterprises exporting to the Malaysian market with Halal certification for about 3,000 products . Thus, the potential for exporting this product is still very large.

In November 2024, in Malaysia, with the approval of Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, the Department of Foreign Market Development (formerly the Department of Asia - Africa Market ) and the Halal Cooperation Agency, under the Malaysian Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, signed a Letter of Intent on Halal cooperation.

This activity not only helps to improve businesses' understanding of Halal exports to the Malaysian market but also to the Muslim market in general, " Mr. Le Phu Cuong informed and emphasized.

On the other hand, during the working trip, the Association of Overseas Chinese Commerce and Industry in Malaysia (ACCCIM) also requested the trade office to support and connect to work with VCCI and the Trade Promotion Agency to promote relations with trade and investment promotion organizations of ASEAN countries, explore potential cooperation opportunities with Vietnamese organizations and agencies, and introduce ASEAN events planned during Malaysia's year as ASEAN Chair.

Mr. Le Phu Cuong said that the activities of connecting and supporting Malaysian enterprises to survey the Vietnamese market not only promote trade activities but also greatly support investment cooperation between Vietnam and Malaysia.

Specifically, recently, from February 9-12, the trade office supported a delegation of Malaysian distribution and retail businesses (including: AEON Co. (M) Berhad and LS Sales and Marketing Sdn. Bhd) to survey and work in the northern provinces and cities.

At the end of the survey trip, LS Sales and Marketing Sdn. Bhd will coordinate with the trade office and businesses to organize a Vietnamese goods fair at AEON shopping centers to promote the sale of Vietnamese food and beverages to the Malaysian retail system.

This is a very positive result for the promotion, introduction and sale of goods. In the coming time, the trade office will also promote survey activities, act as a bridge to support businesses of the two countries to learn about the market and diversify export products.

According to statistics, Malaysia and Vietnam are currently the only Comprehensive Strategic Partners in Southeast Asia. Malaysia is Vietnam's second largest trading partner in ASEAN and Vietnam's 11th in the world.

Statistics from the Customs Department also show that Vietnam's goods exports to Malaysia in January 2025 reached 333.7 million USD, down 20.5% compared to the previous month and down 28.1% compared to the same period last year.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/hieu-qua-tu-hoat-dong-xuc-tien-thuong-mai-viet-nam-malaysia-378443.html