A seminar on trade promotion and import-export development in Central Viet Nam was held in Da Nang on Friday morning.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang speaking at the seminar. Photo: VAN HOANG

Co-organised by the Department of Trade Promotion under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, the event was part of the ongoing programme "Trade connection between suppliers in Central and Central Highlands regions and exporters and trade promotion organizations" which is taking place in the city from June 27 - 30.

In her speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the seminar, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang assessed that the Central region (North Central region and Central Coast) was an important strategic area of ​​the country. Over the past year, the region has witnessed a strong economic growth and restructuring.

In particular, in 2023 alone, the entire region's import-export turnover reached more than US$46.7 billion, a decline of over US$2.4 billion against 2022 due to the general impact of the difficult global foreign trade context. Of which, the region's export turnover generated over US$22 billion last year, equivalent to the value in 2022; whilst its import turnover was around US$24.7 billion, down more than US$2 billion compared to 2022.

According to the planning for the north-central and central coastal region for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the north-central and central coastal region aims to foster rapid, sustainable, and economically robust development, particularly in the field of maritime economy. Additionally, the region will have a synchronous, modern, green and smart infrastructure system, whilst the region’s urban system will be linked into a synchronous network, with typical, green, civilized, modern, and smart architecture rich in identity and able to withstand and adapt to climate change.

The deputy minister laid stress on rolling out solutions to promote science and technology, chain links in production to increase product value, and regional links in trade promotion and import-export development activities on a professional scale to maximize resources and effectively implement breakthrough action programmes, thereby creating a new, breakthrough change in enhancing the special important position and role and fully tapping the potential and advantages of the region.

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Le Quang Nam delivering his speech at the seminar on the morning of June 28. Photo: VAN HOANG

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Le Quang Nam highlighted the key position of the city in terms of politics, economics, culture, society, security and defence in the Central and Central Highlands regions in general and the Central Key Economic Zone in particular. At the same time, the city was an important gateway to the Pacific Ocean of Central Viet Nam and some countries to Northeast Asia through the East - West Economic Corridor, he added.

Regarding import and export activities, Da Nang has worked with export markets in more than 120 countries and territories worldwide. There are over 500 enterprises participating in export, of which, more than 100 have regular import and export activities with key products.

Currently, Vietnamese enterprises in general, and import-export enterprises in particular, are still facing many difficulties in production and business activities and finding partners and orders in the context of economic difficulty. Therefore, the trade connection between suppliers in the Central and Central Highlands regions with export enterprises and trade promotion organisations in Da Nang was a very meaningful and practical activity.

He expressed his belief that the seminar, along with a series of trade connection activities being held in Da Nang, will significantly contribute to supporting businesses in the city, and the Central and Central Highlands region as a whole, to seek cooperation opportunities and foster export activities in the time ahead.

A fair featuring typical products of 16 localities in the Central and Central Highlands region, and a number of localities, with the participation of more than 200 participating suppliers, units, cooperatives and businesses is being organised at a public park at the eastern end of the Dragon Bridge. Photo: VAN HOANG

During the event, participating delegates discussed and shared opinions that can be applied quickly and effectively to trade promotion, and import and export development in the region, and support solutions for agricultural products.

On the afternoon of the same day, central regional enterprises had direct trade activities with export businesses, trade promotion organizations, and large distributors such as Central Retail, Lotte, WinCommerce, AEON, SaiGon CO.OP, Bach Hoa Xanh, and Ecofarm Pay.

Within the framework of the programme, typical products of 200 suppliers, cooperatives, and businesses from16 localities in the Central and Central Highlands regions, and some northern and southern provinces, are on display at a public park at the eastern end of the Dragon Bridge from June 27 - 30.

Reporting by V.HOANG, Q.CUONG - Translating by M.DUNG, P.TRA