An Giang strengthens international cooperation and border trade

Unlocking advantages

Over the past five years, implementing the Provincial Party Committee's Resolution for the 2020-2025 period and carrying out the policy on international integration, An Giang province has signed cooperation and friendship agreements with 21 localities in 9 countries in the fields of economics , investment, trade, agriculture, fisheries, and tourism.

The province has granted investment approval for 1,507 projects to investors, with a total investment capital of VND 727,631 billion, covering 79,855 hectares, including 57 FDI projects with a total capital of USD 2,777 million. Tourism has developed and become a key economic sector, with strong development in Phu Quoc and Ha Tien coastal and island tourism, supporting cross-border trade and services.

Customs officers inspect the customs clearance procedures for exported goods at the Ha Tien International Border Gate.

Typically, Ha Tien ward leverages its advantageous location, bordering both the sea and Cambodia, and situated on the province's vital transportation routes. Over the years, the locality has effectively mobilized resources to develop key economic sectors, invest in improving socio-economic infrastructure, and exploit the potential of border trade and coastal tourism. As a result, the economic development space has expanded, harmoniously integrating border and coastal areas.

Businesses can look up customs administrative procedures, which are publicly listed at the Ha Tien International Border Gate.

According to the Department of Industry and Trade, An Giang province has expanded its export market and trade relations to over 60 countries and territories; export turnover has grown at an average rate of 7.34% per year. International sea transport routes have been expanded. Border gates such as Ha Tien, Giang Thanh, Tinh Bien, Vinh Xuong, and seaports have been upgraded, contributing to facilitating import and export and trade with Cambodia, Thailand, and Singapore. Import and export turnover and cross-border trade have maintained stable growth compared to the previous term, with diverse export items ranging from rice, seafood, processed agricultural products, consumer goods, etc.

The province actively participates in trade promotion activities, international and regional trade fairs, especially in the fields of fisheries, tourism, and consumer goods, gradually building An Giang's image as an attractive trade destination.

Mr. Tran Van Hai, an employee of Huy Nam Co., Ltd., shared: “Currently, administrative procedures have been simplified, and businesses are given favorable conditions for import and export, making the transportation of goods easy and fast. As a result, cross-border trade between Vietnam and Cambodia has become vibrant, with a wide variety of goods and abundant supply, meeting the consumer needs of people in both countries.”

Solve the problem

However, realistically, integration, cooperation, and regional and international linkages associated with border trade development in An Giang province still face many limitations. Policies and investment resources for transportation infrastructure and logistics services connecting to seaports and production areas are not synchronized, lacking international standard logistics centers and warehouses. The province lacks specific mechanisms and policies for border trade development tailored to its characteristics; the scale of border trade transactions is not commensurate with its potential…

According to Nguyen Thong Nhat, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of An Giang province, border trade is not only a driving force for trade growth but also a lever to promote integration, cooperation, and sustainable development of An Giang province. In the 2025-2030 term, to maximize the potential for developing border trade, border gate trade, logistics services, tourism, and international cooperation, the Department of Industry and Trade proposes to the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee a comprehensive set of solutions: Prioritizing phased upgrading of border gates, building logistics centers and cold storage facilities at border gates and seaports, and modern warehouses; completing inter-regional transportation connections; synchronously connecting road, waterway, and maritime routes between production areas - border gates - seaports; prioritizing capital for upgrading the Tinh Bien, Vinh Xuong, and Ha Tien border gates; seaports and logistics centers.

Seafood processing workers for export.

In the field of regional and international cooperation, An Giang continues to maintain and expand traditional markets (Cambodia, ASEAN, China), strengthen the exploitation of niche markets and high-standard markets (EU, Japan through FTAs). At the same time, it strengthens administrative procedure reforms, creating a favorable business environment; perfects mechanisms and policies to support preferential credit for export businesses; and supports businesses in promoting deep processing and increasing the added value of key products: rice, pangasius fish, fruits, and vegetables. The province encourages green export businesses, developing environmentally friendly products with international certifications (ASC, BAP, GlobalGAP, etc.).

The Department of Industry and Trade will actively support businesses in applying cross-border e-commerce, developing digital business models, and logistics services in the border gate areas of An Giang province. It will strengthen market management and combat smuggling and trade fraud, creating a healthy and transparent environment to promote smooth trade.

Article and photos: THUY TRANG

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/an-giang-tang-cuong-lien-ket-hop-tac-quoc-te-giao-thuong-bien-gioi-a462918.html