• Exports to Egypt up 41 percent

Vietnam Ambassador to Egypt Dao Thanh Chung said Vietnam’s main export items included rice, wooden furniture, consumer goods and seafood.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade reported that Egypt has been the fourth largest importer of Vietnamese goods among 67 countries having trade relations with Vietnam.

Vietnam annually imports US$20 million worth material inputs for production from Egypt, it said.

However, bilateral trade has not matched the two countries’ potential.

Chung urged Vietnamese businesses to penetrate further into the Egyptian market.

Ha said the embassy will create favorable conditions for businesses to bring a wider range of export items including agricultural products, cloth, electronics, mobile phones, machinery and equipment to Egypt.

As the two countries aim to bring their bilateral trade to US$500 million, he proposed setting up a Vietnam-Egypt Business Council in the near future.