The information was discussed at the “Video Interactive Business Matching Forum: Vietnam – EU Logistics 2020” held by the Import and Export Agency and the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency, under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Vietnam Trade Offices in the EU on December 9.
Director of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency Vu Ba Phu said that the EU is an important trade partner of Vietnam and the trade relations between the two sides have developed rapidly and effectively.
In the first 10 months of this year, Vietnam’s export revenue to the EU reached US$33.23 billion, down 3.8% compared to the same period in 2019, while import revenue reached US$12.42 billion, up 3.1% over the same period last year.
Phu noted that the effectiveness of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement since August 1, 2020, has also provided a big boost to Vietnam-EU trade relations, leading to favourable factors for the development of the logistic sector.
However, two-way trade between Vietnam and the EU is facing many challenges, including difficulties from some logistics activities as they are not being conducted as usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several logistics services for goods shipment between Vietnam and the EU have become more expensive and scarce while enterprises must meet additional new requirements on import and export procedures from the EU side.
Thus, logistics enterprises of both sides need to exchange orientations and cooperation opportunities to take advantage of and promote each other’s resources to optimise logistics services and better serve import and export activities, Phu said.
Deputy Director of the Import and Export Agency Tran Thanh Hai suggested that EU enterprises participate in investing in logistics infrastructure in Vietnam, in the application of technology in logistics, human resources training, and in the new areas of urban logistics, circular logistics and green logistics in Vietnam.
After the plenary session of the forum, enterprises met and exchanged online via trading sessions that took place simultaneously at six transaction offices, introducinglogistics products and services as well as opportunities and experience for cooperation in the field.
