Hanoi (VNA) – The European Trade Policy and Investment SupportProject (EU-MUTRAP) has helped Vietnam further integrate into the global andregional trading systems while promoting Vietnam-EU trade and investmentrelations, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong.

Vuong made the statement at the closing ceremony of the project in Hanoi onDecember 12.

Lauding contributions of the project, he expressed his belief that a new phaseof cooperation will be open for both sides with numerous projects to fully tapbenefits of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Bui Huy Son, Director of the EU-MUTRAP Management Board, said that after fiveyears of implementation, the project has fulfilled all of its set plan with 130technical support activities, 74 reports and research documents, and 300seminars and training courses in 31 cities and provinces.

Through the EU-MUTRAP’s six sub-projects, support of the EU reached handicraftsmall and medium enterprises, helping them develop brand names and sustainabledesigns as well as improve their business results.

The project also worked to branch out the support industry, enhance capacityfor the leather shoe sector and build a value chain for Long An and BinhThuan’s dragon fruits.

Unlikeprevious projects backed by the EU, EU-MUTRAP endorsed improvements ininvestment, environment and labour policies and shifted from supportingnegotiations of international trade deals to supporting the implementation ofinternational trade commitments.

Specific support activities were provided for Vietnamese seafood, garment,leather shoes, coffee and cocoa, Son added.

Ambassador Bruno Angelet, Head of the Delegation of the European Union toVietnam, stressed that bilateral trade between Vietnam and the EU has increasedsignificantly after the EVFTA took effect.

Thanks to EU-MUTRAP, Vietnamese exporters were updated to the latest marketinformation and knowledge about food safety for fruit, vegetable, seafood andhoney.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh, who is head of theGovernment negotiation team for the EVFTA, said the successful EU-MUTRAPproject wrapped up the “MUTRAP” journey as a model of efficient cooperationbetween Vietnam and the EU.-VNA