| Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) have helped Vietnamese goods penetrate major global markets. Implementing FTAs has boosted Vietnam's economic reform achievements. |
FTAs positively promote trade growth.
Vietnam is currently a member of 16 free trade agreements (FTAs), of which 15 have come into effect. Participation in these FTAs has significantly boosted trade growth in the Central and Central Highlands regions.
 |
| FTAs have boosted trade between localities in Central Vietnam and the Central Highlands, leading to positive growth. |
According to Mr. Ha Sy Dong, Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, Vietnam's participation in new-generation FTAs such as CPTPP, EVFTA, UKVFTA, etc., has opened up many opportunities for export growth, attracted investment, and had positive impacts on the socio-economic development of Quang Tri province, especially in promoting trade value growth.
According to the leaders of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, thanks to the efforts of the Provincial Department of Industry and Trade and other departments and agencies in actively disseminating information and guiding the access to and implementation of FTAs, many businesses in the province have now understood and exploited the incentives and opportunities to expand markets from the commitments in FTAs, especially the new generation FTAs.
“Quang Tri's export turnover has grown well from 2015 to the present (from 387.9 million USD in 2015 to 600.4 million USD in 2023 – PV). ODA projects and FDI enterprises investing in the Southeast Economic Zone, Lao Bao Trade Zone, and other industrial zones have seen significant growth,” the Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee informed.
 |
| Mr. Ha Sy Dong – Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Tri Province |
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich, Vice Chairman of the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee, stated that FTAs have had a strong impact on the province's economy and exports. Over the past period, Gia Lai province has actively implemented awareness campaigns among officials, civil servants, and relevant businesses regarding sectors and fields that can take advantage of opportunities from FTAs, as well as strengthening investment attraction efforts.
“To date, the province has 11 FDI projects with a total investment of 697 million USD. Total export turnover has increased continuously every year, with impressive growth from 580 million USD in 2020 to an estimated 750 million USD in 2024,” Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich informed, adding that Gia Lai province currently has 30 export enterprises, with the main export markets being Europe (accounting for about 50-60% of the province's total export turnover, with coffee and wood being the main export goods), and Asia (accounting for about 30%, mainly China, South Korea, etc., with products mainly rubber, cassava, coffee and wood products).
 |
| Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich – Vice Chairperson of the People's Committee of Gia Lai Province |
Representing Da Nang City, Ms. Do Thi Quynh Tram – Deputy Director of the City's Department of Industry and Trade – stated that the implementation of international economic integration and the execution of FTAs have initially yielded positive results in many aspects, contributing to the city's economic development.
In terms of trade, Da Nang's import and export turnover ranks among the top 3 in the Central and Central Highlands region. The total value of goods exported from Da Nang during the 2021-2024 period is estimated at US$7.7 billion, with an average growth rate of 4.5% per year. The total value of goods imported by Da Nang during the same period reached US$5.2 billion, with an average increase of 0.1% per year. Goods from Da Nang businesses are currently exported to more than 120 countries and territories.
Many businesses have not yet paid attention to effectively utilizing FTAs.
Despite achieving many positive results and making efforts to support businesses, representatives from provinces and cities in the Central and Central Highlands regions also indicated difficulties in implementing FTAs. A prominent issue is that businesses have not yet paid sufficient attention to effectively utilizing the benefits offered by FTAs.
 |
| Ms. Do Thi Quynh Tram - Deputy Director of Department of Industry and Trade of Da Nang City |
“Businesses are the main force implementing FTAs and are most strongly affected during the implementation process. However, many businesses still do not fully understand the impact of FTAs, are not proactive in accessing and understanding FTA commitments, and have not given adequate attention and invested sufficient resources to effectively utilize opportunities and minimize challenges brought about by FTAs,” said Ms. Do Thi Quynh Tram.
According to Mr. Ha Sy Dong, the province's import-export businesses mainly import and export with China or act as satellite businesses for larger enterprises, so they have not paid enough attention to the new generation of FTAs.
Representatives from various localities also noted that there are still many limitations in data collection, especially data related to import and export, and difficulties in utilizing FTAs. “Detailed data on industries, markets, import and export businesses… in the province have not been provided in a timely and detailed manner, significantly affecting analysis, evaluation, and management,” said Mr. Ha Sy Dong.
 |
| Specific policies are needed to provide maximum support for businesses to access markets with FTAs. |
To make the implementation of FTAs more effective in the future, localities believe that specific policies are needed to provide maximum support for businesses to access markets covered by FTAs.
The Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Industry and Trade proposed that the Government and central ministries and agencies develop and effectively implement the Action Plan for the implementation of FTAs, especially specific policies to provide maximum support to localities and businesses in accessing markets; and integrate and coordinate activities and programs of diplomatic agencies and foreign countries.
Similarly, Gia Lai province also proposed specific policies to support businesses in each sector to access and utilize the benefits from FTAs. “Gia Lai province hopes that the Government and relevant ministries and agencies will have practical policies to support businesses when implementing FTAs such as CPTPP, EVFTA, and UKVFTA. Specifically, this includes ways to access incentives for sectors and products where Gia Lai province has strengths, such as coffee and wood products,” suggested Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich.
In addition, localities in the Central and Central Highlands regions also proposed the need for innovation to increase the effectiveness of information dissemination. “We propose that ministries and agencies strengthen activities to disseminate specific and detailed information about the FTAs to which Vietnam is a member. This includes considering segmenting target groups for information dissemination so that the content is aligned with the needs and scale of development of businesses,” Mr. Ha Sy Dong stated.
| According to information from the Central Region Import-Export Management Office (under the Import-Export Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade), the situation regarding the utilization of preferential treatment from regional FTAs is quite positive. Some markets have recorded growth in the number of Certificates of Origin (C/O) issued and export value (from 200-500%) compared to the period before the FTAs came into effect. |
Comment (0)