Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to visit Myanmar
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong will pay a state visit to Myanmar from August 24-26 at the invitation of Myanmar President Htin Kyaw, aiming to deepen the two countries’ cooperation in trade and economics.
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong |
Two-way trade rose by 48 percent to US$250.2 million in the first four months of 2017 with Vietnam enjoying a trade surplus of US$133.3 million. Vietnam goods were worth US$191.7 million in the period, up 29 percent year-on-year, while imports almost tripled to US$58.5 million.
Means of transport and spare parts accounted for the largest proportion of Vietnam’s exports to Myanmar, 11.9 percent, followed by steel, machines, plastic products and metals.
Made-in-Vietnam consumer goods have been well received in Myanmar as they are good quality and affordable, said Vu Cuong from the Asia-Pacific Market Department at the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
But some Vietnamese products have struggled to access Myanmar due to lengthy customs clearance in the country and fierce competition from China and Thailand, according to Cuong.
Additionally, it takes about two weeks to ship products from Vietnam to Myanmar by sea, increasing transport costs.
He recommended Vietnamese businesses export more goods to Myanmar, including bicycles, motorbikes, mini trucks, machines, equipment, iron and steel, chemicals, confectionary and textiles and garments.