The conference connecting trade between suppliers in the Northern and North Central regions with export enterprises and trade promotion organizations is an event within the framework of the National Program on Trade Promotion in 2023, coordinated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade with the People's Committees of provinces and cities in the Northern and North Central regions.

The Conference was attended by more than 200 delegates, including: Representatives of the People's Committees of the provinces and cities in the Northern and North Central regions, leaders of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Departments of Industry and Trade, Investment and Trade Promotion Center, Center for Industrial Promotion and Trade Promotion, Industry Associations, foreign trade promotion organizations and enterprises.

At the conference, delegates participated in two discussion sessions on connecting local product consumption through domestic consumption channels and into distribution systems in foreign markets.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai said that in the context of the world still being somewhat affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and political tensions taking place in some markets with Vietnam's export strengths, Vietnam's import and export activities are also affected and facing many difficulties.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai

Deputy Minister Do Thang Hai emphasized that in the first 5 months of 2023, although there were positive signals in terms of import and export, production and business, many new enterprises were established... However, compared to the previous period, the economic picture as well as the business situation is still very difficult. " Therefore, supporting enterprises in production, business and consumption of products domestically and internationally is extremely important. This is also a task assigned by the Prime Minister to ministries, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade " - the Deputy Minister stated.

In recent times, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has directed the Trade Promotion Agency to coordinate with units under the Ministry, closely cooperate with relevant agencies, organizations and enterprises, expand both traditional and modern distribution channels, actively consolidate and develop the domestic market to boost exports; diversify export markets through various forms of trade promotion organized regularly and continuously such as: trade connection conferences, online and direct exhibitions, creating many connections between Vietnamese enterprises and foreign importers in key and potential export markets, contributing practically to removing difficulties for enterprises' production and business, promoting export growth, maintaining economic stability in the context of the pandemic.

According to Deputy Minister Do Thang Hai, in 2022, the Ministry of Industry and Trade assigned the Trade Promotion Agency to coordinate with relevant agencies to successfully organize Trade Connection Programs between Suppliers and export enterprises and trade promotion organizations in all three regions of the North - Central - South and most recently, the Trade Connection Program in the Central - Central Highlands region held in Da Nang in May 2023.

“The Trade Connection Programs have achieved certain successes, supporting local businesses in the three regions of North - Central - South to connect and exchange, and transact directly with many domestic and international partners. Thereby achieving certain, practical results” - Deputy Minister Do Thang Hai assessed.

Promoting the results achieved in recent trade promotion work, the Deputy Minister said that the Conference held today is an important regional trade promotion activity, with the participation of most localities in the Northern and North Central regions, with the participation of many localities and businesses, which is a positive signal in difficult times.

Delegates attending the conference

In parallel with the Trade Connection Conference, to enhance the effectiveness of business participation, the Organizing Committee organized an exhibition area to introduce typical products and export potential of localities at Tran Nhan Tong walking street, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi City, thereby creating favorable conditions for businesses to directly promote their products to domestic consumers and international tourists, approach and grasp consumer tastes, thereby having production and business plans to adapt to market trends.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Quyen - Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee said that 2023 is the third year that Hanoi City has coordinated with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to organize the program "Connecting trade between suppliers in the Northern and North Central regions with export enterprises and trade promotion organizations".

Mr. Nguyen Manh Quyen - Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee

According to the leader of the Hanoi People's Committee, previous trade connection programs have achieved good results. Local businesses in the Northern and North Central regions have connected and exchanged; transacted directly with domestic distributors, export enterprises and many international partners through overseas trade promotion organizations.

In particular, Mr. Nguyen Manh Quyen said that the programs have received the attention and direction of the leaders of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the support of Vietnamese trade agencies in other countries, foreign trade promotion organizations in Vietnam and agencies and units in the provinces and cities in the Northern and North Central regions.

"I believe that today's Conference, together with a series of trade connection activities held in Hanoi, will actively support businesses in the Northern and North Central regions in general, and businesses in Hanoi in particular, to find opportunities for cooperation, promote the export of their products through foreign distribution systems, and promote import and export activities of goods," said Mr. Quyen.

From June 16 to June 18, 2023, at Tran Nhan Tong walking street and Thong Nhat park, the Trade Promotion Agency (Ministry of Industry and Trade) in coordination with the Departments of Industry and Trade of provinces and cities in the Northern and North Central regions organized an exhibition area to introduce typical products and products with export potential of 23 localities including: Hanoi, Cao Bang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Ninh, Dien Bien, Ha Nam, Ha Giang, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Phu Tho, Son La, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai; along with the participation of more than 300 suppliers, cooperatives, enterprises, and production entities.

Through this activity, it is aimed to create favorable conditions for businesses to directly promote their products to domestic consumers and international tourists, approach and grasp consumer tastes, thereby having production and business plans to adapt to market trends.