Binh Duong Province Strongly Supports Exporters
With more enterprises and investors, import-export activities have increased in Binh Duong. According to Mr Pham Van Son Khanh, Director of the Trade Department, import-exports are an important driving force for the economic development, the indicator of business efficiency and the resources of re-investment.
In recent years, Binh Duong has created favourable conditions for the enterprises to increase their export, especially ceramics, handicrafts, lacquer and processed farm produce. The province has applied a one-stop shop thereby accelerating administrative formalities. More importantly, it has established an import-export office in the province reducing the time spent examining documents and granting visas for exports to the US. By the end of 2005, the remaining permits will be granted by logging. The time taken will be one day after the form is fully filled. Trade Minister Truong Dinh Tuyen has authorised Binh Duong Trade Department to decide on the sales of properties of enterprises. This creates an attractive business environment for investors and they invest more in the province.
So far, the enterprises in the province have established relations with over 100 countries and territories : 60 per cent in Asia, 25 per cent Europe and 13 per cent in America. The value of exports continues to grow : USUS$530 million in 2000 and 988 million in 2004, 43 per cent more than 2003 and 10 per cent of the total export value of Vietnam. The province ranked third in export value and maintained an average growth of 39.17 per cent between 2000-2004.
Among the exports, wooden furniture recorded the highest growth rate of 103.5 per cent a year. From a modest proportion of 3.69 per cent in 2000, it rose to the top position with 16.85 per cent, and the export value increased from USUS$19.5 million in 2000 to USUS$335 million in 2004. Garments made up 13.8 per cent with a growth rate of 79.8 per cent a year. Footwear attained an average growth rate of 30.3 per cent and handicrafts 54.5 per cent (5.63 per cent in export value). Meanwhile ceramics maintained a stable export value of USUS$100 million. This is the main export of the province with real value as most of the materials are from the province. The export of mechanic products also reached a record level with 187 per cent a year (USUS$111.9 million). Other items of significant export values are : rubber, cable and wire, bicycles and parts, electronic parts, processed food and farm produce (coffee, tea, pepper, cashew-nuts). Many exporters of the province have been selected by the Trade Ministry and included in the list of outstanding exporters.
To improve exports, the enterprises have imported equipment and parts, and additional materials for use in production. The export value in 2004 was USUS$1,906 million, 40 per cent more than 2003. The remaining problems are poor coordination between producers and exporters, and low percentage of high value items (electric appliances and electronics) manufactured for export.
In 2005, Binh Duong was allocated VND1.5 billion in trade promotion funds for such programmes as websites supporting enterprises’ participation in domestic and international fairs, training courses for import-export businesses and supporting new exporters of the province.
Song Phuong
Vietnamese
