These seminars aim to help businesses gain a better understanding of VJEPA and other economic agreements within ASEAN framework.

At the seminar on VJEPA, businesses updated information about benefits of the agreement, a tax reduction roadmap, principles of product origin, trade liberlisation, opportunity and challenge for businesses trading in Japan.

Le Quang Lan, deputy head of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that the VJEPA was signed on December 25, 2008 and came into force as of October 1, 2009. The agreement marked the 35^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and helped to raise the partnership between the two countries to a new high. It covers a number of fields, such as commercial goods, commercial services, investment, and business environment improvement. The agreement together with other signed agreements have created a comprehensive legal framework for businesses from two countries to operate.

The seminars on the ATGA, the AFAS, and the ACIA provided businesses with information on Vietnam’s customs agreements and regulations on origins of products. These also offered a good chance for businesses to iron out snags in the implementation of these agreements.