At a recent meeting with 21 newly-appointed Vietnamese ambassadors and consuls general, domestic businesses were all keen to receive legal aid and information from the diplomats to enable them penetrate deeper foreign markets.
The meeting is part of the country’s economic diplomacy policy implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has proved effective in boosting the national economy.
Information scarcity
Most of businesses at the meeting highlighted the shortage of relevant information as their biggest obstacle. They need to access full and accurate information on targeted markets so that they can draw up the right market strategies.
The Chairman of the Board of Management of the Vietnam National Petroleum Corporation, Vu Ngoc Hai, suggested that each embassy have a website for businesses to reference. The director of AgriBank Hanoi, Pham Thi Hang, said her bank needs information about markets where its partners do business so it can provide assistance when necessary.
Vietnamese businesses’ demand for information goes beyond just markets – they also want to know about their partners, suppliers and materials as domestic production relies heavily on external markets and the media only provide very basic information.
Nguyen Thi Dung, an official from the Hanoi Auto and Motorbike Company, said that the ambassadors should provide detailed information on the markets in their residence countries.
Access difficulties
Besides the poor quality of information from embassies and overseas diplomatic missions, there are also many obstacles in accessing this information. So far, there has never been a direct communication channel between embassies and the business community. Nguyen Huu Doan, President of the Hai Duong provincial Enterprise Association, asked the state to establish a proper mechanism for businesses and embassies to communicate with each other.
The Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vu The Loc, added that domestic businesses really need help from embassies, especially in countries where joint business councils have not yet been set up. He stressed that businesses are particularly looking for more information on economic structures, trade barriers, technical standards, and import and export mechanisms. Mr Loc said the diplomats should provide a consultancy, promote trade and investment and make a greater effort to protect the legitimate rights of businesses overseas.
However, Vietnam’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Tran Trong Toan, said that businesses should give diplomats specific requests because businesses operate in a wide range of fields. Only then could embassies meet businesses’ demands.
Vietnamese embassy staff have recommended that businesses get complete lists of Vietnamese diplomatic missions when they operate abroad so that they can receive any necessary help.
Vietnam now has 80 business associations, all of which want to find foreign partners as both manufacturers and customers.
The newly-appointed ambassador and consuls general include:
- Tran Trong Toan, vice chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, the Vietnamese Ambassador to the Republic of Korea.
- Hoang Vinh Thanh, chief of the Foreign Ministry’s Office, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia cum Vanuatu Republic, Marshall, Micronesia and Solomon.
- Huynh Minh Chinh, vice chairman of the National Border Committee, the Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands.
- Truong Trieu Duong, Vietnam’s chief representative at the Asia-Europe Cooperation Forum, the Vietnam’s governor of the Asia-Europe Foundation, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Spain.
- Nguyen Van Dao, chief of Vietnam’s MIA Agency, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina cum Uruguay and Paraguay.
- Do Xuan Dong, Assistant to the President, the Ambassador to Czech Republic.
- Le Sy Vuong Ha, chief of the State Protocol Department, the Ambassador to Canada.
- Nguyen Duc Hoa, vice chief of the Foreign Ministry’s Foreign Policy Department, the Ambassador to Sweden.
- Nguyen Hoang, vice chief of the European Department of the Foreign Ministry, the Ambassador to Poland cum Litva.
- Nguyen Viet Hung, former consul general in Mumbai (India), as the Ambassador to Pakistan cum Afghanistan.
- Ho Dac Minh Nguyet as the Ambassador to Ukraine and Moldova.
- Ngo Duc Thang, director of the Information – IT Centre of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ambassador to Thailand.
- Cao Xuan Thuan, chief of the office of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs as the Vietnamese Ambassador to Morocco, cum Guinea, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Cote d’Ivoire and Gabon.
- Hoang Tuan Thinh, vice chief of the China – Northeastern Asia Department of the Central Foreign Relations Committee as the Ambassador to Mongolia.
- Ta Van Thong, chief of the National Translation and Interpretation Centre of the Foreign Minister as the Ambassador to Norway.
- Dao Duy Tien, Secretary General of the Alliance of Vietnamese Friendship Associations, as the Ambassador to Jamahiriya Libya , Tunisia, Cyrus, Ghana, Gibuti and Chad.
- Nguyen Vu Tu, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Foreign Affairs as the Ambassador to the Philippines and Palau.
- Duong Nguyen Tuong, Vice Secretary General cum Chief of the office of the Alliance of Vietnamese Friendship Association, as the Ambassador to Brasil.
- Bui Van Thinh, vice chief and chief inspector of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs as consul general in Mumbai (India).