Asian trade promoters need more initiatives: Viet Nam

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai is calling on Asian trade promoters to introduce more initiatives to step up trade and investments in Asia.

As the 21 st Asian Trade Promotion Forum (ATPF) meeting opened in Hanoi on April 3, the Deputy PM said he expected ATPF members to unite in developing measures to spur the growth of the Asian business community.

The Deputy PM said he was pleased ATPF members were collaborating to increase trade and investments in each country and the region generally.

ATPF, established in 1987 under the initiative of the Japan External Trade Association (JETRO), has so far admitted 21 members which are trade promotion organisations in Asian economies.

The newly-born Vietnam Trade Promotion Organisation (Vietrade), who joined ATPF recently, has already launched efficient trade promotion activities, a senior official of the ATPF initiator said.

JETRO Chairman Yasuo Hayashi pledged to assist Vietnam in addition to sharing experiences in the field.

The JETRO official also outlined the need for ATPF members to further promote the exchange of information and experiences toward making the organisation more competent.

The two-day ATPF meeting is focusing on the role of a trade promotion organisation’s services in the era of globalisation.

The participants will also discuss the preparatory work for the third ATPF exhibition, the capacity building programme and the next APTF meeting slated for China in 2009. (VNA)