Brussels (VNA) – In the recent past, the Trade Officeof Vietnam in Belgium and the EU has stepped up trade promotion and protectionof Vietnamese enterprises’ interests, thus helping foster bilateral trade ties,an official has said.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency, Trade Counsellor ofVietnam in Belgium and the EU Tran Ngoc Quan said the trade office has sought manyways to coordinate with all main partners in Belgium such as the Belgian -Vietnamese Alliance, as well as the Belgian commerce chambers and tradepromotion centres in the European country’s regions, to organise meetings tointroduce Vietnam to local enterprises.

It has worked with research institutes to publish guidance onhow to access Belgian and EU markets on the websites of the office and theVietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade. In addition, its staff members have alsocome to businesses to seek partnership opportunities for Vietnamese firms.

To protect Vietnamese companies’ interests in trade disputeswith Belgian partners, the office worked directly with the Belgian side todiscuss difficulties and devise the best solutions. In force majeure events, it wouldcoordinate with Belgian authorities, such as the honorary consul of Vietnam, totake other steps to protect Vietnamese firms’ interests, according to Quan.

Regarding approaching trade promotion events, he noted thetrade office built a promotion strategy with regular and annual activities. Oneof the focuses is the Vietnam Road Show held in each region and city of Belgium. Another focus is “Meetand Greet”, a programme to organise trips to each other’s countries forVietnamese and Belgian enterprises.

The office will also work with related parties to hold theVietnamese goods week in Belgium annually to improve local consumers’ understandingof Vietnamese products, he said, adding that cultural and tourism promotion isalso included in trade promotion events to introduce Vietnam as an attractivedestination to Belgium businesses and people.

The official went on to say that Vietnamese goods have becomemore popular in Belgium and Europe, especially thanks to the EVFTA that has createdconsiderable tax advantages for products of Vietnam.

Over the two years of the EVFTA enforcement, Vietnam hasrecorded encouraging growth in exports to Europe despite numerous difficultiesfacing the global and EU economies, he noted, citing data as showing that tradebetween Vietnam and the EU increased by some 17% in the first eight months of 2022,with the former’s exports up 25%.

The trade office has surveyed many business associations inEurope, all of whom highly valued this agreement, he revealed.

This is a big opportunity for fostering bilateral economiclinks. Many European companies have also pledged to visit Vietnam to developbusiness activities, the Trade Counsellor added./.