Vietnam prioritises export promotion[

Hanoi (VNA) - A Vietnamese trade official has said that promoting exports remains
the most important measure to help spur production at a time when the global economy
is in decline.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Thanh Bien, at a discussion on
promoting exports on April 9, remarked that his ministry has approved 128.6
billion VND for a national trade promotion programme this year, and is awaiting
governmental approval for the programme to continue through 2010.

Also, the ministry has granted financial support to local businesses when they
invite foreign investors to the country to explore investment opportunities, Bien
added.

The official admitted that Vietnam 's exports have been hard hit by the global
economic crisis, with earnings of 13.48 billion USD in the first quarter, showing a
meagre year-on-year increase of 2.4 percent.

As all major export markets have cut spending dramatically over the last half-year,
competition between exporters of hard-currency products such as farm produce,
seafood and footwear have intensified. "It is not likely, despite price rises, that
Vietnam will see high export revenues at this time," he concluded.-Enditem