It includes activities to develop markets and export products, such as organisation of exhibitions both inside and outside the country, welcoming foreign importers and providing trade information.

In addition to these, the programme will launch trade promotional activities to develop the local market, especially in rural, remote and mountainous areas.

This year’s programme has new features compared with the previous years, as it has approved 11 projects in the mid-term to help businesses build their trade promotion plans in the 2018-20 period.

After years of implementation, the national trade promotion programme has become an effective channel to develop markets. Last year, some 7,000 businesses enjoyed the programme’s activities. The total contract value and direct transactions at the programme’s events reached more than 569 million USD in foreign countries and 324 billion VND in the local market.

Phan Thi Thanh Xuan, general secretary of the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association, said that after attending the national trade promotion programme for 14 years, leather shoe companies had not only procured new orders and expanded their markets but also formed an association for themselves.

According to Xuan, the total export turnover of the sector surged from 3 billion USD in 2003 to 18 billion USD in 2017, partly thanks to the programme. It is expected that the turnover this year will reach 20 billion USD.

The programme is expected to see more success, as the Government promulgated Circular 28/2018/ND-CP, stipulating some solutions to develop foreign trade.

The circular clearly defines contents, budget and support principles for the national trade promotion programme. Products and sectors which have the potential for exports will be given support through the programme. The Ministry of Industry and Trade will manage the programme.

It also stipulates that projects should suit the real demands of the business community, as well as export strategies.