14-12-2009
(Posted by CAAI News Media)
HCM CITY — The high import tax rate imposed by Cambodia has become a big challenge for Vietnamese goods seeking to enter the neighbouring market, delegates said at a meeting held in HCM City last week.
Organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the meeting aimed to help local enterprises resolve difficulties they are facing in exporting goods to Cambodia.
With favourable transport conditions between the two countries, the Cambodian market, with a population of more than 15 million, was a promising market for Vietnamese products, the ministry said.
Aware of the huge potential, many Vietnamese companies in recent years have increased promotion programmes, expanded distribution networks and improved cargo transport services in Cambodia.
A number of Vietnamese businesses are co-operating with Cambodian partners to establish a retail sales network, storage and goods distribution chain.
But local firms said the current import duties between 25-40 per cent imposed by Cambodia made it difficult for them to compete with other products in the market.
Most local firms, therefore, were opting to sell their products at border gates, they said.
The trade ministry said it had sent the list of 32 essential items to the Cambodian Government to reconsider the import tariffs. Negotiations on the issue are expected to take place next year.
Nguyen Thi Hong, deputy chairwoman of the HCM City People’s Committee, said at the meeting that establishing Vietnamese trade centres in Cambodia is a must to increase the popularity of Vietnamese goods.
She asked the trade ministry to offer incentive policies including interest rate subsidies and capital support to enterprises who invest in building warehouses in border areas or establish trade centres in Cambodia. More than 100 Vietnamese enterprises are operating in Cambodia at present.
A trade fair promoting high-quality Vietnamese products last month in Cambodia’s Battambang Province gained positive results with all products sold out in two days, said Hong.
Local companies should follow up on this programme in the future, she added.
Viet Nam enjoys a trade surplus with its neighbour, exporting products such as electric wire and cable, fuel, fertiliser, food and foodstuff, electronic and cosmetic products.
The country earned US$1.43 billion from exports to Cambodia last year. — VNS
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