Hanoi (VNA) – An online conference topromote trade cooperation between Vietnam and Tunisia took place on June 30, attractingthe participation of representatives from 100 businesses of the two countries operating acrossfields.

Addressing the event, deputy head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Vietnam Trade PromotionAgency (VIETRADE) LeHoang Tai affirmed that Vietnam is gradually becoming an important linkin the global supply chain for many groups of processed and manufacturing products,farm produce, food and consumer goods.

The event offers a venue for Vietnamese enterprises to introduce business cooperationopportunities and import - export prospects between the two sides, Tai said.

Najeh Ben Abdessalem, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry ofTunis capital, said the trade value between the two countries still remained limited,affirming that there is a large room for bilateral trade cooperation.
 
Sharing Abdessalem’s view, Ghazi Yacoub from the centre for export promotion ofTunisia (CEPEX) spotlighted the potential for trade cooperation between Vietnameseand Tunisian enterprises, especially in export-import.

Tunisia’s import turnover averagely increases by 4.75 percent per year, hesaid.

Through Tunisia, Vietnamese businesses can access markets in the Middle Eastand South Africa. On the contrary, Vietnam can serve as a gateway for Tunisianfirms to make inroads into other ASEAN member countries.

Hoang Duc Nhuan, Vietnamese Trade Counsellor in Algeria and Tunisia, said thetwo sides need to improve their legal framework through signing agreementson the promotion and protection of investment, memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on trade promotion, and consideringthe possibility of setting up a Vietnam – Tunisia business council.

According to the Vietnam General Department of Customs, the Vietnam – Tunisiatrade value reached 36.2 million USD in 2019.

Vietnam mainly exports coffee, cashew nuts, pepper, seafood,machines, spare parts and fibre. Meanwhile, Tunisia ships seafood, chemicals,machines, plastics, textiles and animal feed, and materials to Vietnam.

Nhuan emphasised the necessity to promote therole of diplomatic representative agencies, ministries and trade promotion organizationsand joint committees of the two countries in supporting their business communities.

Attention should be paid to helping the two sides’ enterprises get more informationon cooperation opportunities.

Vietnamese and Tunisian firms should also actively participate in internationalfairs and exhibitions, and business forums, he said.

Nhuan advised Vietnamese enterprises to considerpouring more investment into and setting up joint ventures in the field ofprocessing, manufacturing and high-value-added services in Tunisia as afoundation for entering other African markets./.