Vietnam should make most of ‘golden time’ to boost exports to EU: diplomat
Vietnamese exporters should make the most of the advantages created by the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to help their products gain a firm foothold in the European market, according to Nguyen Van Thao, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and head of the Vietnamese delegation to the EU.
Brussels (VNA) – Vietnamese exporters should make the most of the advantages created by the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to help their products gain afirm foothold in the European market, according to Nguyen Van Thao, VietnameseAmbassador to Belgium and head of the Vietnamese delegation to the EU.
He affirmed that now is a ‘golden time’ for Vietnam to boostits trade ties with the EU, as those advantages are not permanent.
At present, Vietnam is one of the four Asian countries andtwo in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) engaged in FTAs withthe region which is home to over 450 million people and has a total GDP of morethan 16 trillion USD.
Thao also suggested ministries, sectors, and localities tobuild long-term strategies, even for the next 20 years, which can identifycommodities able to gain a firm foothold in the EU market, and potential fieldsto enhance cooperation.
The diplomat proposed the Government soon define priorityfields to promote cooperation in digital economy and circular economy with theEU.
According to the ambassador, with a coastline of over3,260km, Vietnam holds huge potential to develop maritime economy – which isalso a spearhead sector of Europe.
However, bilateral cooperation in this aspect remainsmodest, with the European Commission’s ‘yellow card’ warning on illegal, unregulatedand unreported (IUU) fishing being a barrier, noted Thao.
He expressed his belief that, with drastic moves by theGovernment, localities and fishermen, the yellow card can be removed, openingup opportunities for bilateral collaboration./.
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Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
