HANOI: A seminar promoting Viet Nam – Thailand trade was held in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta city of Can Tho yesterday. At the event, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) introduced the Thailand Extra Exhibition “Expand your business opportunities in ASEAN” and the Trade Promoter Reward Programme to participants.
TCEB Director Jaruwan Suwannasat said TCEB would work hard to boost bilateral trade via leading exhibitions in Thailand. According to the TCEB, Thailand hosted a total of 103 international commercial fairs featuring food industry, agriculture, automation, and health care, in addition to infrastructure last year.
During the period, more than 2,400 Vietnamese visited exhibitions in Thailand, becoming the fourth largest source of arrivals from Southeast Asia. Nguyen Phuong Lam, deputy director of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s branch in Can Tho, said Viet Nam was the 11th largest importer of Thailand with goods accounting for 20.4 per cent of the total imports in the country.
Thailand is currently among top 10 investors in Viet Nam with over 300 valid projects. It predominantly sells polymer materials, motorcycles and spare parts, chemicals and steel to Viet Nam, while importing electrical household appliances, iron, steel, and crude oil, apart from fisheries. The two countries are striving to lift two-way trade to US$15 billion by 2020.
