12/19/2024 19:30

Ms. Trinh Thi Thu Hien, Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department - Ministry of Industry and Trade delivered the opening speech.

(PLVN) - Exporting to the EU market has many advantages from taking advantage of tariff incentives under the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Union (EVFTA). However, the EU is a demanding market in applying regulations on non-tariff barriers, especially technical standards and sustainable development.

On December 19, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) organized a seminar to raise awareness and support textile, garment and footwear enterprises in green transformation under EVFTA.

Ms. Trinh Thi Thu Hien, Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department - Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that since Vietnam implemented the EVFTA Free Trade Agreement, business support activities have always been of interest and highly appreciated. Implementing the Decision of the Minister of Industry and Trade to deploy a number of FTA tasks, the Import-Export Department has promoted information exchange, raised awareness, and supported export enterprises to access and adapt to the EU's green transformation trend.

According to Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department - Ministry of Industry and Trade Trinh Thi Thu Hien, for the textile, garment and footwear industries, the EU's increased standardization and legalization of regulations and standards, focusing on developing a circular economy will, on the one hand, promote the realization of the goals of the green agreement, establish new green trade standards, spread the common responsibility to combat climate change, protect the environment, and contribute to the transformation of green and sustainable supply chains, not only in the EU but also globally. In addition, these regulations will also create higher technical barriers to market access, while creating additional administrative and cost burdens, as well as complex accountability obligations for manufacturers and supply systems.

Overview of the discussion to raise awareness and support textile, garment and footwear enterprises in green transformation in EVFTA.

The Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department emphasized: The EU is Vietnam's main textile and garment export market. The EU's increasingly expanding regulations and higher technical standards for the textile and garment industry will create challenges for businesses in terms of sustainable production, emission reduction, circular economy, social responsibility, environment, etc. Meanwhile, Vietnam's business capacity and production conditions are still limited, and the transformation of production models requires technology and large capital.

At the seminar, Ms. Phan Thi Thanh Xuan, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association, raised the difficulties and concerns of Vietnamese leather and footwear enterprises in the face of regulations on barriers to entering the EU market.

"For the textile and garment industry to develop sustainably, it is necessary to focus on five main solutions, including: Human resources; market and capital; production methods, proactive NPL; technology and digital transformation; ESG sustainable practices," Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai, Deputy General Secretary of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association shared at the panel discussion.

Also at the seminar, businesses gave frank opinions, raised difficulties, challenges and raised concerns in approaching and adapting to the green transformation trend.

Representatives of the Import-Export Department - Ministry of Industry and Trade answered questions from businesses. At the same time, they provided information support, especially supporting export businesses to access and adapt to the EU's green transformation trend.