Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has become a bigsupplier of agricultural products for the Japanese market and Asia in general, but ample room remains for the country to boost export to Japan, as Vietnamese goods now now account for only 3 percent of Japan’s total import value, hearda workshop on March 29.

The hybrid workshop, jointly held by the Ministry of Industryand Trade (MoIT)’s Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency and the ASEAN-Japan Centre(AJC), aimed to improve Vietnamese enterprises’ capacity for agriculturalexport to Japan.  

Le Hoang Tai, deputy head of the agency, noted thatVietnamese enterprises have applied international standards and cutting-edgetechnologies in production and processing, thus meeting requirements on foodsafety and hygiene.

Ta Duc Minh, Trade Consular at the Vietnamese Embassyin Japan, stressed that Vietnam has strength in agro-fishery products that are in great demand in Japan.

However, Japan has non-tariff measuresto protect domestic production, he said, noting the country’s strictrequirements in terms of food hygiene and safety, and animal and plantquarantine, along with high travelling and transportation costs, among others.

He, therefore, suggested Vietnamese exporters make careful preparations in company profile and product catalogues to win potential partners' trust, and promote their products through the embassy’strade office.

Tran Quoc Toan, deputy head of the Import-ExportDepartment at the MoIT, said Vietnam is Japan’s 10th biggest supplierof vegetables and fruits, making up about 1.7 percent of Japan’s import value .

Vietnam and Japan have signed four free tradeagreements, which have given competition advantages to Vietnamese businesses inthe market, according to the official.

He called on Japanese competent agencies to furtherprovide information about the market as well as policies and requirements regardingimports for the ministry, the trade office and other competent agencies ofVietnam.

Toan suggested the two sides coordinate in organising tradepromotion activities, fairs and exchanges between the two countries’ businessesin suitable forms.

Enterprises need to improve production capacity andwork to ensure the supply as well as product quality, play a more active rolein trade promotion, and stay updated on the local taste, he said./.