HCM City (VNA) – Hong Kong (China) is one of the important gateways for Vietnameseproducts to enter other large markets in the region and the world, an officialhas said.

Ho Xuan Lam, DeputyDirector of the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC),made the remark at a workshop which was jointly held in HCM City on January 31by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the ITPC.

Lam said Hong Kong isone of the potential markets that Vietnam will exploit in 2018, saying thatHong Kong is not only a destination market but also a bridge to bring Vietnameseproducts to other broader markets in Asia and the world as it is home to manylarge-scaled commodity trading floors.

Sharing Lam’s opinion, LyKim Chi, President of the Food and Foodstuff Association of HCM City, said HongKong is a potential market for Vietnamese agricultural products and foodstuffs.

Not just meeting thedemand of Hong Kong people, Vietnamese products traded in the market will bedistributed to many nations in the world thanks to a global network of retailers,Chi elaborated.

However, only a smallvolume of Vietnamese rice and dragon fruits are currently available in supermarketsin Hong Kong, Chi said, attributing the situation to a lack of trade promotionsin and information about the market.

Meanwhile, Tina Phan,Director of the HKTDC Indochina, described Hong Kong  as an ideal market for Vietnamese exporters toexpand their markets and connect with the regional and global supply chainssince it is also a gateway to enter China, the world’s most populous nation.

According to Phan, Vietnamhas a large number of high-quality products, particularly agricultural productsand food, which have become favourite among foreign consumers. However,Vietnam’s exports have failed to match its potential due to limits in tradepromotions in international markets and building brand names.

In order to increaseVietnam’s exports to Hong Kong, thus joining large supply chain, expertssuggested Vietnam and Hong Kong increase trade promotion activities and shareinformation about the markets and facilitate connections among theirenterprises.

Vietnamese firms shouldactively participate in trade fairs and trading floors to access targetedclients and partners, the experts said, adding that they also need strategiesto develop their brand names and and promote their products moreeffectively.-VNA