Conference on connecting trade between Gia Lai province enterprises and foreign enterprises

(GLO)- On the morning of June 5, in Pleiku City, the Department of Industry and Trade coordinated with the ASEAN Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center in Japan and NK Holdings Co., Ltd. to organize a conference to connect trade and promote export of goods between Gia Lai enterprises and foreign enterprises.

Conference scene. Photo: Vu Thao

Attending the conference, on the side of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, there were leaders of the Department of Industry and Trade of the provinces: Attapeu, Savalan, Savannakhet.

On the Cambodian side, there were representatives from the Department of Commerce of the provinces: Ratanakiri, Kratié, Mondulkiri. On the Japanese side, there were advisors from the Japan National Supermarket Association. The conference was attended by representatives of business organizations and enterprises from the three countries of Laos, Cambodia, and Japan.

On the Central side, there were Mr. Nguyen Anh Son - Director of the Import-Export Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade ; Ms. Ta Phuong Dung - Consulate General of Vietnam in Pakse, Champasak province (Laos); Mr. Do Viet Phuong - Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Cambodia; leaders of units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

On the side of Gia Lai province, there were Mr. Rah Lan Chung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Mr. Nguyen Huu Que - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; leaders of a number of departments, branches, sectors; enterprises, and cooperatives of the province.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Rah Lan Chung speaks at the conference. Photo: Thanh Sang

Speaking at the conference, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Rah Lan Chung said: In the context of increasingly deep international economic integration, promoting export activities is one of the key factors to improve competitiveness and create growth momentum for the economy. Import and export not only helps diversify the market but also creates opportunities for domestic enterprises to access new technology, techniques and raw materials.

Gia Lai is one of the Central Highlands provinces with great potential in agriculture, processing industry and renewable energy. In recent years, Gia Lai province has always focused on improving the investment environment, developing sustainable raw material areas and increasing added value in the production-processing-consumption chain.

In 2024, Gia Lai's total export turnover is estimated to reach about 750 million USD, of which coffee is the main product (accounting for over 55% of total export turnover) due to benefiting from high world coffee prices. Gia Lai province aims to achieve 850-900 million USD in export turnover in 2025, expanding to many new products such as fresh fruit, cassava starch, wood products and clean pepper.

Delegates visit the exhibition area of ​​typical products of the province. Photo: Vu Thao

Agriculture is an essential sector for all three countries of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, not only contributing to ensuring food security but also being the foundation for regional cooperation. Although there are many challenges, this is also an opportunity for the three countries to support each other, together developing a modern, sustainable and highly community-based agriculture. To effectively exploit the available potential, promoting trade promotion to international markets, especially the Japanese market, is the strategic direction of Gia Lai province in the coming time.

"We identify this as a key, stable and long-term market suitable for the province's strong products such as roasted coffee, specialty coffee, clean pepper, bananas, passion fruit, durian and some other processed agricultural products. We believe that, through today's conference, businesses will find suitable partners, establish new cooperative relationships, contributing to bringing goods and services of Gia Lai province in particular and Vietnam in general to increasingly reach the international market" - Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Son - Director of the Import-Export Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade spoke at the conference. Photo: Thanh Sang

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Nguyen Anh Son - Director of the Import-Export Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade - said: "In the context of deep integration and increasing consumer demand in the Asian region, Gia Lai province has made clear changes in export activities, especially for key agricultural and forestry products such as coffee, rubber, pepper, honey, cashew nuts, etc. In particular, the two target markets focused on in the early period of 2025 are ASEAN and Japan. Each market has its own characteristics but both bring high growth potential if exploited in the right direction.

According to the Director of the Import-Export Department, from the initial results in export activities to the ASEAN and Japanese markets, it can be affirmed that Gia Lai is on the right track in its export development strategy associated with restructuring the agricultural sector and expanding the international market. With ASEAN, it is necessary to continue to take advantage of border gates and neighboring relations, while investing in logistics infrastructure, improving quarantine capacity and proactively connecting directly with importers. With Japan, it is necessary to further promote the development of standard raw material areas, expand deep processing cooperation, improve packaging and labeling quality and build the province's product brand on international distribution channels.

At the same time, it is necessary to maintain international trade promotion activities regularly, in depth and closely linked to the practical capacity of local enterprises. Investing in digital transformation, traceability and building product stories are also key factors to help Gia Lai goods successfully conquer demanding but potential markets in the coming time.

"To improve its position on the export map, Gia Lai needs to focus on developing value-added product groups such as specialty coffee, organic pepper, honey, processed fruits and refined wood products. In addition, building the Gia Lai agricultural product brand in association with international standards (VietGAP, GlobalGAP) is a key factor to conquer demanding markets. In particular, increasing the proportion of deeply processed products will contribute to increasing added value, reducing risks from fluctuations in raw material prices and creating a foundation for sustainable development," Mr. Nguyen Anh Son noted.

Japanese businesses learn about Gia Lai's typical products. Photo: Vu Thao

At the conference, there were 2 discussion sessions with the topics "From highlands to high value" and "Voices from the market", focusing on practical stories from farmers and businesses in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia - those who are gradually approaching and conquering the Japanese market. Thereby, delegates heard genuine sharing and specific cooperation proposals to work towards a more sustainable and effective agricultural value chain.

Delegates participating in the discussion session. Photo: Vu Thao

At the same time, delegates exchanged and discussed issues related to Gia Lai's agricultural products; trade and export; assessed difficulties and limitations, proposed effective solutions to take advantage of potentials, opportunities, as well as take advantage of incentives of new-generation bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements to promote connection of consumption of export products to the markets of Cambodia, Laos and ASEAN countries in the current context.

At the conference, there was a signing ceremony of 9 memorandums of understanding on cooperation in developing clean raw material areas between the Departments of Industry and Trade of the provinces of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. At the same time, 6 memorandums of understanding on cooperation were signed between NK Holdings Co., Ltd. (Japan) and Gia Lai enterprises and the government of Attapue province (Laos).

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/hoi-nghi-ket-noi-giao-thuong-giua-doanh-nghiep-tinh-gia-lai-voi-doanh-nghiep-nuoc-ngoai-post326608.html