Strengthening export capacity to the Netherlands

April 21, 2023 | 16:32

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Three Vietnamese small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Real Bean Coffee, Palmania, and Tuan Huyen have been awarded a total of more than $18,000 in capital investment through the 'Ready to Export' initiative managed by the Dutch Business Association of Vietnam (DBAV).

Strengthening export capacity to the Netherlands

Real Bean Coffee was awarded VND 250 million ($10,650), Palmania received VND 125 million ($5,350) and Tuan Huyen Trading and Industrial Services collected VND 50 million ($2,130) at a ceremony on April 20.

Starting on March 1, 2022, 'Ready for Export' is an 18-month scheme managed by the DBAV with a subsidy from the Dutch government. It aims to support Vietnamese SMEs to grow their exporting capacity. Around 150 companies were invited to join, but only 15 of them successfully completed the programme.

“It is important that we work on border adjustment mechanisms together because this is what is going to come up and this is where we can help each other,” Daniel Stork, Netherlands consul general in Ho Chi Minh City.

“Companies need to know what kind of certificates they need, for example, in sanitation and hygiene. But also, negotiation skills, the level of English language and translation, strategic management, and also getting market-ready for Europe. These are areas that many companies can improve on," said Guido van Rooy, the DBAV’s executive director.

Speaking at the event, Daniel Stork, Netherlands consul general in Ho Chi Minh City, said, “It is important that we work on border adjustment mechanisms together because this is what is going to come up and this is where we can help each other.”

“With the 'Ready to Export' scheme, we want Vietnamese businesses to feel as at home in the Netherlands, as we have been made to feel here. It's about showing Vietnamese business owners the way, helping them in any way that we can to make sure their products can access our market," he added.

The second batch of businesses participating in the 'Ready to Export' programme began their learning journey earlier this month with a focus on food processing. The top 30 businesses of the more than 300 registrations will be added to the DBAV network.

Accelerating trade with innovation and green tech

Vietnam and the Netherlands will celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2023. Kees van Baar, Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam, writes about the prospects in the cooperation between both nations, especially in terms of trade and investment, and both nations’ cooperation in green economy development.

Expanding investment from The Netherlands

Approximately $1.2 billion could be invested in Vietnam by the Dutch business community in the coming years, according to the Dutch Business Association Vietnam (DBAV).

By Hong Nhung

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