Wood and Craft International Fair in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC Expo) is an important event for Vietnamese wood-based products industry. It provides the local industry business opportunities to expand to the world market. Vietnam Business Forum reporter My Chau had an interview with Mr. Dang Quoc Hung, Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City Fine Art and Wood Processing Association (HAWA) on its assistance to businesses.
2009 is a difficult year for wood processing industry, how could HAWA help businesses overcome the crisis?
The economic crisis has affected American market, a big market for Vietnamese wood-based products, causing enormous difficulty for Vietnamese businesses. In early 2009, without orders, many Vietnamese businesses had to stop the production. In such conditions, HAWA, serving as the bridge business to business and government to business, has coordinated and shared orders and experiences to overcome the difficult time.
HAWA has performed successfully its role representing and protecting legitimate interests of its members, supporting and uniting businesses in a common house, sharing weal and woe. Vietnamese businesses are working very hard and most efficient in production but limited in information on markets and trade barriers that often cause them serious losses. Therefore, HAWA has organized seminars and invited experts to explain on new regulations, trade barriers to boost the export and avoid losses.
In addition to information, HAWA also called on businesses to share orders to continue the production together. Their cooperation and mutual assistance can ensure optimal efficiency.
What is assistance programme of HAWA at HCMC Expo 2009 and which market will be the most promising for Vietnamese businesses?
It is difficult to predict the success of the fair as the economy continues complicated developments. However, HAWA will try its best to achieve highest result.
Vietnamese businesses have little chance to promote trade in foreign countries due to limited resources. Instead of participating in foreign trade fairs with high expenses and in limited number, Vietnamese businesses can participate in big number and big pavilions to introduce their potentials and convince foreign partners. HCMC Expo can also introduce the list of non-participants for future cooperation.
For small and medium sized enterprises unable to participate in the trade fair, HAWA ensure them of a common pavilion to introduce their products. By specific activities, HAWA is an effective channel to promote trade and assist businesses to access market and expand to the world.
Regarding potential markets, Vietnamese businesses have recently increased their export value to Russia, China, Mid-East and Africa. It is natural that with economic revival, wood-based products are the first choice for Russian customers. Meanwhile, unlike Russian customers preferring outdoor products, Chinese customers opt for indoor furniture to meet their demand.
For Mid-East and Africa, as the demand is diversified, HAWA through its website provide Vietnamese businesses detailed information on each market. Accordingly, the businesses will promote and sell suitable products.
In addition to its efforts so far, what would HAWA do in the future to promote further its role?
In fact, Vietnamese business associations in Ho Chi Minh City and elsewhere in Vietnam are still weak. Furthermore, there is no standard and it is difficult to evaluate the activities of each association. HAWA with small staff have tried their best and succeeded in organizing VIFA 2009. With the cooperation of businesses more encouraging successes can be achieved.
In the coming years, HAWA will organize joint stock companies to promote distribution of products and financial activities, organize seminars, provide information so that businesses can improve their products, cut down production cost And increase competitiveness. HAWA will continue Hoa Mai and Hoa Sen (Plum and Lotus flowers) Awards to encourage the creativeness of artisans and businesses.
With the efforts and developments of over 300 business members, HAWA has become a common house of wood processing businesses to share both favourable and difficult time.
Vietnamese
