With the aim of setting the partnership toward building the trade promotion programs between Vietnam and Colombian enterprises, VINASME organized the meeting with the Colombia Embassy in Vietnam in this morning (09/08) in Ha Noi.
At the meeting, Dr To Hoai Nam- Standing Vice President cum General Secretary VINASME said VINASME responsibility is strengthening cooperation between Vietnam enterprises with the South and Central American enterprises. Particularly, VINASME has paid great attention to Colombia Enterprise. Besides, VINASME takes charge in strong investment promotion in some activities of enterprises.
According to Dr Nam, Colombia is the top nuts’ exporter. In Colombia structure of export, consumer goods plays an important roll. Meanwhile, Vietnam has many consumer goods that on the demand for exporting.
“In structure of import goods from China, VINASME realized Vietnam owns many outstanding strengths. Some of Vietnam goods are more beneficial than China such as consumer goods in arts and crafts because of cheaper labor source, better material. Thus, coopering to Vietnam, Colombia will get more advantages in price” Dr Nam stated.
 

Overview of meeting.
 

 Also following Dr Nam, Vietnam and Colombia have similarity in average labor age, with 2 nations average age are 31 and 31 respectively. Therefore, 2 countries are likely to have strategic cooperation in long term.
Replying to this, Mrs Claudia Liliana Zambrano Naranjo totally agreed with Dr Nam. She also added 1 more similarity is Textile, clothes accessories.
“ I myself really love Ao Dai Viet Nam and I think there are many opportunities for SMEs to develop in the textile sector, and Association of women small and medium business can develop in this sector”  Colombia ambassador shared.
Mrs Claudia Liliana Zambrano Naranjo state that with mentioned similarity, it is necessary for 2 countries to set first important targets toward specific programs.\
Mrs Claudia Liliana Zambrano Naranjo also expressed sincere wish to know more about Vietnamese enterprise export experience. “ I acknowledged that Vietnam SMEs has good capacity to export worldwide. Colombia would like to learn from Vietnam” she emphasized
“ Colombia has kept pressuring the SMEs to encourage them to export, so that bring more economic benefits, "she added.
Accordingly, the Colombian ambassador said that the Colombian Embassy in Vietnam would like to receive comments and initiatives from VINASME, and hope to cooperate with VINASME.
"We will  send information to VINASME about Congress of the Colombian SMEs, then work with the Colombian trade promotion agency next year as well as this year to invite representatives of VINASME members to participate in the Forum connecting the business of Colombia, "Colombian Ambassador said.
"VINASME has studied the structure of import and export of Colombia's goods to the US and China," said Mr. To Hoai Nam, "We recognize that both parties have a lot of opportunities. We are also very interested in Colombian mineral exports. "
At the meeting, Mr. Luong Ngoc Nhan - Head of Economic and Projects Department of VINASME, focused on the wish of Colombian ambassador that Colombia is very interested in exchanging experiences, or rather learning experience export goods of Vietnam. In this term, the department can help Colombia approaches the strongest Vietnamese exporters, so Colombia can gain experience and spread to Colombia' s businesses.
"Boosting up Vietnam's export-import turnover is largely based on trade promotion, because trade promotion orients market segmentation and guides exporters to foreign countries; policy, customer and market research are the key to achieve success in export. The core strategy that make our product  efficiency is right orientation to enter the market:” Mr Nhan said.
Mr Nhan added, VINASME would like to organize many forums to connect enterprises from 2 countries and share the  export experience of Vietnamese enterprises to international market.

Mr To Hoai Nam – Standing vice president cum General Secretary and The head of Department for International Cooperation and Project presented souvenir for Colombian Ambassador in Vietnam.
 

In term of trade connection between Enterprise in Association of 2 countries, Mr Nguyen Cao Son- Standing committee, Head of the department for international cooperation and projects expressed that from now to the end of year, VINASME would like Colombia to support Vietnamese enterprises to meet Colombian enterprises.
He emphasized that with the strength of 2 countries as well as attending the Congress of Colombian SMEs, Vietnam will study and research the market then sign cooperation minutes of some strategic sectors.