Building a Vietnamese trade center in Sweden as a "bridge" for Vietnamese goods

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang Thuy - Director, Commercial Counselor, Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden, concurrently in charge of the Northern European market, had an interview with reporters of the Industry and Trade Newspaper about solutions to promote the Vietnamese community living in Sweden and the Northern European market to prioritize using Vietnamese goods. Including the construction of a Vietnamese trade center in Malmo city - Sweden.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang Thuy - Director, Commercial Counselor, Head of Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden, concurrently in charge of the Northern European market

Madam, how many people are there in the Vietnamese community living in Sweden and the Nordic market? What is the demand for Vietnamese goods in this community?

The Vietnamese community in Northern Europe is estimated to number around 50,000 people. This is a small community compared to other regions in the world, but they have close ties and deep national pride. In Sweden, this community not only focuses on socio-cultural activities but also plays an important role in maintaining and developing traditional Vietnamese values.

In particular, the demand for Vietnamese goods in this community is very high, especially during holidays and cultural events. Traditional foods such as rice, fruits, fish sauce, and spices from Vietnam are always popular. These products not only help Vietnamese people living far from home feel the taste of their homeland but also serve as a means for them to convey cultural values ​​and customs to the younger generation born and raised in Northern Europe.

In addition, the demand for Vietnamese goods is not only limited to the Vietnamese community but also spreads to local consumers, especially those who love Asian culinary culture. This creates favorable conditions for Vietnamese products to gradually gain a foothold in the Northern European market.

In response to the campaign “Vietnamese people prioritize using Vietnamese goods”, what solutions has the Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden implemented to bring Vietnamese goods to the Vietnamese community in the host country? How effective has this activity been so far?

The Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden has made efforts to implement the campaign "Vietnamese people prioritize trading and consuming Vietnamese goods" with the goal of not only providing Vietnamese goods to the Vietnamese community in Northern Europe, but also spreading the culture and value of Vietnamese products to the local people.

The Vietnamese Goods Fair was jointly organized by the Trade Office and the Embassy of Vietnam in Sweden in September 2023 (Photo: Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden)

One of the basic factors for success in this is the patriotism of the Vietnamese community abroad. Wherever Vietnamese people are, most of them love their country and always look towards their homeland. Therefore, the campaign is not only an effective method to preserve national identity but also a bridge to bring Vietnamese goods into the international market. First of all, Vietnamese people need to love and consume Vietnamese goods, from which the products can spread and convince local consumers.

As a result, in the Nordic market, this campaign has brought significant results. For example, rice exports from Vietnam to Sweden increased from 44,000 USD in 2018 to nearly 4 million USD after only 3 years. Many new products have appeared on the market such as coconut products, frozen bread, shredded green papaya, lotus sticky rice, etc. This proves that when Vietnamese people actively consume Vietnamese goods, it will create a strong driving force for Vietnamese goods to have a firm foothold in the Nordic market, thereby reaching local consumers.

It is known that currently in Sweden there is the Vietnamese Business Association in Sweden. How does this business community contribute to bringing Vietnamese goods to Vietnamese consumers living and working in Sweden and Northern Europe?

The Vietnamese Business Association in Sweden has played an active role in bringing Vietnamese goods into the Swedish market. It is not only a bridge to help Vietnamese products reach consumers but also a pioneer in export promotion activities, while supporting Vietnamese businesses in the process of market expansion.

In addition to directly participating in the import and distribution of Vietnamese goods, the Association also actively organizes and participates in business delegations to Vietnam to attend major trade events such as Vietnam FoodExpo and Vietnam International Sourcing Fair. These fairs are valuable opportunities for Vietnamese businesses in Sweden and Northern Europe to connect with manufacturers, and at the same time seek high-quality products from Vietnam to import and distribute in Northern Europe.

A Chau Lien AB's warehouse is full of Vietnamese rice (Photo: Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden)

In particular, the Vietnam Business Association in Sweden has continuously promoted the spirit of “Vietnamese people prioritize using Vietnamese goods” in the community, encouraging member businesses to import and trade products from Vietnam. The close cooperation between the Business Association and the Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden has contributed to significantly increasing the quantity and quality of Vietnamese products present in this market.

In the coming time, what activities will the Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden have to continue spreading the Vietnamese Movement to the Vietnamese community living and working in Sweden and the Nordic market?

In the coming time, the Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden will continue to promote activities to further spread the campaign "Vietnamese people prioritize business and consumption of Vietnamese goods" to the Vietnamese community in Northern Europe. The Office will closely coordinate with the Vietnam Business Association in Sweden to develop a Vietnamese trade center in Malmo city - the third largest city in Sweden and the gateway connecting Sweden with other European countries.

This will be a potential step for Vietnamese goods to gain a firm foothold in the region. This project will be similar to the successful model of Sapa market in the Czech Republic or Dong Xuan market in Germany, which is not only a shopping destination but also a cultural center, contributing to spreading the image of the country and Vietnamese goods in Europe. The Vietnam Trade Center, if successfully built, will become an important destination, where Vietnamese goods can easily reach both Vietnamese and local consumers, thereby promoting the presence of Vietnamese products in the region.

Thank you!

Source: https://congthuong.vn/xay-dung-trung-tam-thuong-mai-viet-nam-tai-thuy-dien-lam-cau-noi-cho-hang-viet-nam-348443.html