Trade promotion programmes helped generate more than 200 billion USD from exporting goods and commodities in 2017, according to Vietrade.

At a conference in Hanoi on April 24 on promoting Vietnam’s exports in 2018, Vu Ba Phu, Director of Vietrade said in 2017, for the first time, Vietnam’s exports surpassed 200 billion USD.

The country earned more than 214 billion USD from exporting goods and commodities, up 21.2 percent compared to 2016.

“Increased export had significantly contributed to growth of  Gross Domestic Product, improving trade balance, stabilizing the macro-economy, fostering production while creating jobs and incomes for millions laborers,” Phu said.

“Developing the domestic market was also important, with trade promotion programmes organised in border, mountainous and remote areas in line with the campaign of Vietnamese prioritizing Vietnamese goods.”

The national trade promotion programme helped export companies to enter new markets of significant potential and expand exports to major markets.

Vietrade’s 2017 statistics showed that exports to ASEAN markets rose by 24.2 percent, reaching 21.68 billion USD. It saw a surge of 61.5 percent to 35.46 billion USD in China, and a rise of 14.8 percent to 16.8 billion USD in Japan.

At the forum, the delegates were oriented to focus on two key export groups, including agro-forestry-fishery with the focus on cocoa and cassava, and industrial products with the focus on garment and textile and steel products. 

Besides expanding new markets, exporters were advised to work to improve the quality of Vietnamese goods.

Vietnam earned 55.56 billion USD from exports in the first quarter of this year, a rise of 24.8 percent year on year.