Improve trade promotion effectiveness

Since the beginning of the year, trade promotion activities and export market expansion in Quang Ninh have continued to achieve positive results, boosting high growth in imports and exports in the first half of 2024. These results were achieved thanks to the effective exploitation of traditional trade promotion methods by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and related units. At the same time, digital transformation was applied to innovate and diversify the way of doing things.

Cargo vehicles clearing customs at Bac Luan II Border Gate (Mong Cai City). *Photo: Minh Duc*

In 2024, Quang Ninh strives to increase the export growth of goods of enterprises in the province to 11% over the same period, including increasing the proportion of processed and manufactured industrial goods for export to 65%; increasing the proportion of the export market in Asia to about 90% of total export turnover; the export market in Europe to about 5%; the export market in the Americas to about 2%; the export market in Africa to about 1%; and the export market in other regions to about 2% of total export turnover in 2024.

In order to achieve the above goal, in recent times, in addition to the Chinese market, Quang Ninh province has actively implemented trade promotion in FTA markets, to take advantage of opportunities from signed free trade agreements, especially new-generation free trade agreements, to expand the market for the province's export goods. According to the leader of the Department of Industry and Trade, the unit is currently focusing on digital trade promotion activities for key export markets, markets with FTAs with Vietnam. Thereby contributing to being a bridge to support localities and enterprises to switch to official exports, associated with brand building.

With much effort, In the first 7 months of 2024, the export turnover of enterprises in Quang Ninh province reached 1.966 billion USD, an increase of 14.1% over the same period in 2023. The main export items are: Cement estimated at 61.1 million USD; clinker 65.8 million USD; cotton fiber estimated at 262 million USD; processed seafood estimated at 3.2 million USD; all kinds of clothing estimated at 172 million USD; vegetable oil 1.4 million USD; candles 40.7 million USD; wood chips 171 million USD...

Accordingly, with the rapid development of the current market economy, trade promotion is identified as one of the important solutions, contributing to supporting enterprises and cooperatives to adapt to new trends and expand consumer markets. To promote the effectiveness of trade promotion activities in line with current trends, the province has directed the Department of Industry and Trade to regularly organize propaganda, promote and innovate trade promotion activities; update information on policies, laws, industrial development, trade, services, information on domestic markets, import and export and administrative procedures related to the industry and trade sector on the Department's component information portal, fanpage... to create conditions for management agencies and enterprises operating e-commerce in the province to grasp. Along with that, proactively informing, mobilizing, and supporting businesses, cooperatives, and production establishments in the province to participate in domestic and international fairs and exhibitions, to promote the image and products of Quang Ninh province to friends in the region and the world.

Trade Promotion Conference between young entrepreneurs of Quang Ninh and Australian businesses (June 2024). *Photo: Thien Trang*

In particular, taking advantage of the development of e-commerce, state management agencies in the province have actively supported individuals, organizations and businesses to participate in digital consumer platforms. Thereby, people and businesses have integrated into the e-commerce trend, actively promoting products to domestic and foreign consumers. According to Mr. Nguyen Kien, Director of the Quang Ninh Center for Promotion and Development of Industry and Trade, in the era of technology 4.0, the development of e-commerce tools will be an important promotion channel, bringing great contributions to economic growth, helping retail businesses to reach and retain customers more effectively.

In recent times, in addition to completing and upgrading the province's e-commerce trading floor, the Center has promoted propaganda and mobilized businesses to participate in the floor and reputable e-commerce floors. At the same time, it continues to integrate e-commerce floors into fairs, exhibitions, etc. to spread widely to people, businesses, and tourists. Thereby, contributing to the economic restructuring, promoting the industrialization and modernization process, in line with the province's international economic integration process and building a healthy, competitive and sustainable e-commerce market.

To effectively promote trade, departments, branches and localities, mainly the Ministry of Industry and Trade, have increased promotion and linked trade promotion with tourism. Typically: Vietnamese goods and OCOP product weeks have been organized more frequently in tourist areas and spots to attract a large number of visitors; actively organizing booths to introduce Quang Ninh products on the sidelines of major events; bringing local specialties to supermarkets, shops and stalls for tourists; increasing chains and points of sale, introducing local products and goods in tourist areas and spots; bringing local agricultural products and OCOP products to hotels, restaurants and meals for tourists... These solutions have significantly contributed to helping Quang Ninh products get closer to domestic and foreign tourists, helping to increase product recognition in the market.

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