Building a digital trade promotion ecosystem: Supporting export enterprises

Finding a roadmap for the Digital Trade Promotion Ecosystem Opening markets for businesses through the Digital Trade Promotion Ecosystem

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Duong, Deputy Director of the Center for Information Technology Application and Digital Transformation in Trade Promotion, Department of Trade Promotion, Ministry of Industry and Trade, shared about activities to build a digital trade promotion ecosystem to support businesses, cooperatives, and farmers to have opportunities to promote trade in the digital environment; improve business efficiency, and boost exports.

Xây dựng hệ sinh thái xúc tiến thương mại số: Hỗ trợ doanh nghiệp xuất khẩu

Vietnam Pavilion on Alibaba.com

In order to build a digital trade promotion ecosystem, the Trade Promotion Agency has recently focused on implementing many activities applying information technology and digital transformation in trade promotion. Could you please tell us more about these activities?

Digital transformation is an inevitable trend in all industries and fields. Realizing the importance of digital transformation, implementing Decision 1968 of the Prime Minister on approving the Project to promote the application of information technology and digital transformation in trade promotion activities, the Trade Promotion Agency has deployed many activities to apply information technology and digital transformation in trade promotion with the goal of focusing on building a digital trade promotion ecosystem. In the digital trade promotion ecosystem, we are developing corresponding digital platforms for trade promotion activities to support businesses, cooperatives, and farmers to have the opportunity to promote trade in the digital environment.

Over the years, the Trade Promotion Agency has cooperated with domestic and foreign e-commerce platforms, such as Alibaba, Amazon, Tiki, Shopee, Lazada and Voso, to build booths to support businesses in finding new customers, new markets, promoting goods transactions, and promoting exports. In addition, we have implemented many cooperation activities related to training and capacity building in localities. From 2021 to present, we have implemented nearly 40 training courses and skills training on digital business platforms, especially sales skills.

The Trade Promotion Agency is also working closely with the Alibaba e-commerce platform to build and develop the Vietnam National Pavilion - Vietnam Pavilion. The purpose is to introduce and promote Vietnamese products to international customers as well as promote the export of Vietnamese products to the world.

Accordingly, the Vietnam National Pavilion on Alibaba is a gathering place for 100 typical enterprises participating in cross-border e-commerce, helping to promote Vietnamese brands through the international market, promoting trade between international buyers and sellers in Vietnam. In addition, through the Vietnam National Pavilion on Alibaba.com, we also help raise awareness of the quality of Vietnamese enterprises' products to international customers.

Ông Nguyễn Thành Dương, Phó Giám đốc Trung tâm Ứng dụng công nghệ thông tin và chuyển đổi số trong xúc tiến thương mại, Cục Xúc tiến thương mại Bộ Công Thương

In the process of implementing trade promotion activities through e-commerce channels, what do you think are the limitations of businesses that make these activities ineffective?

Vietnamese enterprises are currently facing many difficulties, such as strict regulations of export markets, especially each market has its own regulations and product quality standards; the export promotion capacity of enterprises is still weak, especially small and medium enterprises. Currently, there are a number of enterprises that do not grasp information about the market, needs, and consumer trends in target markets, leading to difficulties in exporting goods.

In addition, regarding the costs of participating in import and export activities, in addition to the costs related to distribution and production of goods, businesses also have to bear additional costs related to marketing, warehousing costs, transportation costs, etc. For large businesses, when they have many years of experience participating in e-commerce platforms, they will optimize these costs. However, for small businesses that are new to the cross-border e-commerce market, they need consulting units to support them in optimizing these costs.

Finally, it is a common difficulty for many businesses involved in logistics activities. Businesses need to clearly understand the logistics operations in cross-border e-commerce, effective storage solutions, and calculate logistics solutions to have competitive prices compared to businesses with the same products.

In the coming time, how will the Trade Promotion Agency focus on trade promotion through e-commerce channels, sir?

Firstly , we will develop and perfect the digital trade promotion ecosystem, perfecting corresponding digital platforms for direct trade promotion activities to promptly support enterprises, cooperatives and business households to do business effectively in the digital environment.

Second, diversify cooperation with domestic and foreign e-commerce platforms; look for larger, more suitable e-commerce platforms, as well as those with more trends, to be able to provide timely support to businesses that intend to do business on e-commerce platforms.

We also aim to build common booths, Vietnamese national booths on major e-commerce platforms around the world to support Vietnamese businesses to promote their product images to current international customers.

Third , we will continue to organize training activities to improve capacity for businesses, cooperatives and business households in localities nationwide so that they can better understand how to do business in the digital environment, digital transformation methods in trade promotion activities, and business skills on e-commerce platforms.

Thank you!

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