HCM CITY — Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Tuấn Anh at a conference held yesterday in HCM City called for more concerted efforts from the Government, localities and businesses to reach the target of 10 per cent export growth this year.

To improve productivity, the ministry would encourage the use of high technology and innovative management practices, while focusing on institutional reforms and new governmental policies, Anh said. 

With a number of free trade agreements (FTAs) expected to take effect this year, he said the Government would disseminate market information to help businesses learn more about the opportunities and challenges offered by FTAs.

Although exports reached US$82.13 billion in the first half of the year, up 5.7 per cent against the period last year, the increase was lower than in the same period last year compared to 2014. 

Dương Phương Thảo, deputy head of the Ministry’s Import Export Department, attributed the situation to a decline in export prices, including prices of crude oil and industrial processing products.

In the first half of the year, global oil prices continued to drop, reaching a 13-year low of $27, affecting activities in oil and gas exploitation, mining and exports. Revenue from crude oil over the past six months reached only $1.1 billion, a year-on-year fall of 46.6 per cent.

Thảo said the global economy was still facing difficulties as demand and export prices continued to fall.

In addition, trade volume from key importers of Vietnamese products has showed signs of a decline or slow increase. The markets include Japan (down 11.3 per cent in exports and 13.8 per cent in imports) and the Eurozone (a decrease of 1 per cent in exports and 3 per cent in imports), according to Thảo.

Challenges for exporters

Besides the drop in trade volume, Vietnamese exporters are expected to face more trade barriers as many import taxes will be eliminated under existing and upcoming FTAs.

Anti-dumping and anti-subsidy cases have also been on the rise, affecting Vietnamese exporters and preventing them from taking advantage of trade agreements.

Other challenges are outdated production technology, limited management capacity, and weak competitiveness. In addition, many small- and medium-sized businesses find it difficult to access capital.

Unpredictable exchange rates, interest rates and prices of fuel and materials for manufacturing on the global market affected many Vietnamese exports.

The severe drought in the country, the worst in 90 years, and saltwater intrusion also had a severe impact on agricultural exports. Rice exports brought only $1.3 billion in the past six months, a year-on-year decrease of 2.7 per cent.

However, exports of agro-forestry and fishery products in the country reached $13.63 billion in the first half of the year, up 4.1 per cent over the same period last year.

Trade promotion

In addition to improving quality and competitiveness of products, both the State and enterprises were encouraged to expand promotions by participants attending the conference.

Trade promotions should be better organised, focusing on goods that are in high demand and on countries that have FTAs with Việt Nam, particularly the US, Japan and the EU.

They also encouraged a more active role for Vietnamese agencies abroad in helping businesses expand their markets and sharing information about host countries. — VNS