The event was co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Vietnam trade office in Algeria and Tunisia, the Tunisia export promotion agency, and the Tunisia Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Addressing the event, Deputy Director of Vietrade Le Hoang Tai said Vietnam is gradually becoming an important link in the global supply chain for many commodity groups, hailing the conference as a platform for Vietnamese firms to introduce business cooperation opportunities and prospects for the import and export of goods that meet the needs of factories and consumers in Tunisia in particular, and in Africa as a whole.
For his part, Vice Chairman of the Tunis Chamber of Commerce and Industry Najeh ben Abdesalem affirmed it is Tunisia’s wish to enhance trade cooperation with Vietnam, and that the conference was a good opportunity for businesses of both countries to deepen their mutual understanding and further promote trade exchanges in the coming time.
Tunisia is an important gateway for Vietnamese firms and foreign investors who want to penetrate into the vast market of Africa with its population of more than 1.25 billion in general and North Africa in particular, particularly nations in the region such as Algeria and Libya, he stated.
After a representative of the Tunisian Export Promotion Centre presented the opportunities and potential of the Tunisian market, Vietnamese Trade Counsellor in Algeria Hoang Duc Nhuan briefed the North African nation’s enterprises on Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements, foreign trade situation, import-export-investment policies, and strength areas, as well as trade relations between the two countries, while proposing some solutions to bolster bilateral economic cooperation.
According to the official, in order to boost Vietnam-Tunisia trade in the coming time, especially in the post-pandemic period, the two countries should strengthen the dissemination of market information and the introduction of business-investment opportunities in each country.
Seminars and forums connecting the two sides’ businesses should also be held in both virtual and in-person forms, Nhuan said, adding that trade promotion agencies of Vietnam and Tunisia need to create favourable conditions for their enterprises to participate in international fairs and expos held in each nation.
He also suggested the utilisation of the Inter-governmental Committee mechanism to boost bilateral relations, including economic and trade ties.
As shown in statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs, trade revenue between Vietnam and Tunisia stood at only US$36.2 million in 2019, with Vietnam exporting US$21.4 million of commodities, mainly coffee, cashew nuts, seafood, machinery and spare parts, and fibers. Meanwhile, Tunisia’s export items included seafood, chemicals, machinery, plastics, garment and textile, animal feed and materials.
