Vietnamese crafts take int'l stage

Rome (VNA) - The 13 th International Crafts Exhibition 2008 is being held
in the northern Italian city of Milan between Nov. 29 and Dec. 8,
offering a host of business opportunities for Vietnamese exporters attending
the event.

Businesses from over 100 countries manned more than 2,000 stalls at the
expo, making it the world's largest craft exposition.

Products from 15 Vietnamese businesses are being showcased at 18 stalls at
the expo, with the support of VINEXAD, a company under the auspices of the
Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Italy is one of the EU's largest and most open markets for these
commodities, with an annual trade of up to 20 billion EUR.

However, Vietnam 's total share of this market is modest at best due to
a dearth of trade promotion activities coupled with a lack of assistance
from the government.

VINEXAD plans to continue its support for the nation's craft industries
and will ensure there is a Vietnamese presence at an international crafts
fair being held in Paris in April 2009.-Enditem