A week of Vietnamese goods themed ‘Taste of Viet Nam’ began at the CentralWorld mega-shopping complex in Bangkok, Thailand, on September 18.

At the event (Photo: VNA)

Aiming to promote Vietnamese commodities in Thailand as well as creating export opportunities for Vietnamese suppliers in the Thai market, the event has attracted the participation of close to 50 Vietnamese businesses, who are introducing their products with high export potential such as tea, coffee, snacks, fresh fruits and spices. With a total exhibition area spanning nearly 1,000 square metres, the fair is expected to lure some 500,000 visitors over its five-day course.

First held in Bangkok in 2016, the annual event is an initiative jointly implemented by Viet Nam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and Thailand’s Central Group as part of the ministry’s project on promoting Vietnamese enterprises' direct participation in foreign distribution networks up to 2020. The project was endorsed by the Prime Minister in his Decision No 1513/QD-TTg dated September 3, 2015.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai expressed his delight at the growing Viet Nam-Thailand cooperation, particularly after the two countries’ relations were elevated to the level of strategic partnership in 2013.

He said the Vietnamese Government has in recent years created favourable conditions for domestic firms to boost direct exports to distribution systems of foreign nations, including Thailand.

Hai highlighted the week of Vietnamese goods as an important event for the products to get involved in the distribution chain of the Central Group, which runs the CentralWorld.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit lauded progress in collaboration between the states and private sectors of Vietnam and Thailand and hoped for further assistance from Viet Nam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant agencies toward smooth trade and exchanges between the sides.

The relationship between Thailand and Viet Nam is not just a bilateral cooperation but also connected to the ASEAN multilateral collaboration framework, the official noted.

Trade between Viet Nam and Thailand hit 17.5 billion USD in 2018, up 13.5 percent year on year. The figure was 10.2 billion USD in the first seven months of 2019, an annual increase of 6.6 percent.

(Source: VNA)