Workers at TNG, one of the country's largest textile exporters, in the northern province of Thái Nguyên. — VNA Photo

HÀ NỘI — More than 50 sportswear companies from Việt Nam and the Netherlands held an online conference on Wednesday (Việt Nam time) to discuss enhancing trade between the two countries. 

The conference was organised by the Trade Promotion Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and the Dutch Association of Sport Product Manufacturers and Wholesalers (FGHS).

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Director of the department Lê Hoàng Tài said the MoIT will support and help connect companies from both Việt Nam and the Netherlands. 

With the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) about to come into effect on August 1 and Việt Nam's strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnamese sportswear firms were poised to ramp up production and meet demand from international buyers, he said.

As the Netherlands has become one of Việt Nam's largest trading partners in the EU, Tài said his department was looking forward to more activities with the FGSH including business visits and B2B events.

Iwan Rutjens, First Secretary of Economic Affairs at the Dutch Embassy in Việt Nam, said the EVFTA has been an encouragement for Dutch companies to enter Việt Nam and their technological know-how and expertise could help local companies to improve on competitive advantages. 

Dirk Vinken, director of FGHS, said despite the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for sportswear products in the Netherland still remains high, making it a market with strong potential for Vietnamese firms. 

The EVFTA, which eliminates most tariffs between the EU and Việt Nam, will be a major boon for businesses from both sides.

Vice Chairwoman and General Secretary of the Việt Nam Leather and Footwear Association (LEFASO) Phan Thị Thanh Xuân urged Vietnamese firms to invest in technological upgrades and to study international trade agreements to successfully join the global supply chain. She also said firms must start building business plans for the long-term, get ready to face fierce competition and seek trade partners. — VNS