Trade up at Mong Cai border gate

Quang Ninh (VNA) - The value of trade passing through the Mong Cai border gate in
the northeastern province of Quang Ninh is estimated by the Ministry of
Industry and Trade to have surpassed 4.1 billion USD in 2008, an increase of 65
percent over the previous year.

Exports were 1.13 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 10.6 percent, with key
export products including unprocessed rubber, coal and seafood.

Imports passing through the border gate with China were up even more strongly,
rising a whopping 83.2 percent over 2007, with fertilizer, steel and pig iron,
textiles and footwear among the leading products imported through the border
crossing.

The ministry noted that the pace of imports and exports passing through the border
gate slowed in the second half of the year, when the global economic slowdown began
to show its effects.

But the ministry expected trade via Mong Cai to increase again as the Tet (Lunar New
Year) holiday was approaching. It also targeted higher exports of certain
agricultural products, including soybeans and cassava starch.

The Mong Cai international border gate is located in the city of Mong Cai at the
northeastern corner of the country.-Enditem