On 5th August 2022, as a member of the Board of Food, Agri and Aqua Business Sector Committee, EuroCham represented by Vice Chairman Arjen Roem attended the program on “Connecting the suppliers in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam with distributors, exporting businesses and trade promotion organizations”. The program was hosted by Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency, Ministry of Industry and Trade.
From the government side, the program had the presentation of Mr. Do Thang Hai – Deputy Minister – Ministry of Industry and Trade, Mr. Nguyen Huu Dung – Director General of Dong Thap Industry and Trade Department, Mr. Vu Ba Phu – Head of the Management Board of the National Trade Promotion Program – Director General of Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency, Mr. Do Thanh Son – Vice Chairman of Australia Vietnam Business Council (AVBC) and Ms. Vo Thi Ngoc Diep – Commercial Counselor – Head of Vietnam Trade Office in the Netherlands.
At the presentation, Mr Arjen Roem highlighted that: “EU is also negotiating FTAs with other countries in the region that may compete directly with Vietnam in exporting goods to the EU, especially some goods including textiles. If Vietnam does not take advantage of the opportunity to be the first in trade relations, in the future, it will face the risk of competition from neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. We also would like to emphasize that it is imperative that Vietnam embraces competition as a positive aspect of FTA. Competition is a great motivator: It helps to spur innovation, improve standards, and increase efficiencies.”
