Thailand Week kicks off in Hanoi

The Thailand Week 2016 opened in Hanoi on August 18, aiming to enhance trade and investment co-operation between the two countries while creating a platform for both Vietnamese and Thai enterprises to enlarge their networks and further develop strategic partnerships.

At the opening ceremony
At the opening ceremony

The four-day event features nearly 100 booths of Thai companies and agents, which showcase high quality products popular in Thailand, including food and drinks, household products, textiles, jewelry, healthcare and beauty products, auto parts, decorative items, souvenirs, and electronics.

Addressing at the opening ceremony, Commercial Counselor from the Thai embassy Ponpimon Petcharakul said the event not only brings quality goods to Vietnamese consumers but also affords Vietnamese firms a chance to introduce their products to Thai businesses.

This year, Thailand’s Office of Overseas Trade Promotion in Hanoi asked the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency to consider helping Vietnamese businesses attend the Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair slated for September 7-11 by paying the rent for 10 stalls at the event.

The event is one of the joint activities to mark the 40th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties this year and to promote bilateral trade to reach the US$20 billion target by 2020.

Thailand is currently the top ASEAN trade partner of Vietnam and also among the 10 biggest foreign investors here. Meanwhile, Vietnam is the fourth largest trade partner of Thailand in the ASEAN region.

According to Nguyen Phuc Nam, deputy head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Asia-Pacific Department, two-way trade between Vietnam and Thailand grew 8.3 percent last year and 5 percent in the first half of this year.