(GLO)- The conference on connecting trade and promoting the export of goods between Gia Lai enterprises and foreign enterprises took place on the morning of 5-6 in Pleiku City.
This event is expected to open up opportunities for cooperation between Gia Lai and Japan and ASEAN countries in the field of high-tech agriculture, agricultural and food processing industry.
The conference was co-organized by the Department of Industry and Trade together with the ASEAN Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion in Japan, Co.ltd Import Holdings Co., Ltd. Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Rah Lan Chung attended the conference.
The conference was attended by representatives of leaders of the Departments of Industry and Trade of Attapeu, Savalan, Savannakhet provinces (Laos); Department of Commerce of Rattanakiri Province, Kratié, Mondulkiri (Kingdom of Cambodia); Advisor of the Japan National Supermarket Association; a number of business organizations and enterprises of 3 countries: Laos, Cambodia, and Japan; leaders of the Import and Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade); Consulate General of Vietnam in Pakse (Champasak Province); Head of Vietnam Trade Office in Cambodia.
Exploiting potential, seizing opportunities
Speaking at the conference, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Rah Lan Chung said: In the context of deepening international economic integration, promoting export activities is one of the key factors to improve competitiveness and create growth momentum for the economy. Import-export not only helps diversify markets but also creates opportunities for domestic businesses to access new technologies, techniques and raw materials.
Over the years, Gia Lai has always focused on improving the investment environment, developing sustainable raw material areas and increasing added value in the production-processing-consumption chain. In 2024, the province's total export turnover is estimated at 750 million USD, of which, coffee is the main commodity, accounting for over 55% of the total export turnover. Gia Lai aims to strive to reach 850-900 million USD in export turnover in 2025, expanding many new products such as fresh fruits, wheat starch, wood products and clean pepper.
"In order to effectively exploit the available potential, promoting trade promotion to the international market, especially the Japanese market, is a strategic orientation. The province determines that this is a key, stable and long-term market, in line with the province's strong products.
Through the conference, businesses will find suitable partners, establish new cooperative relationships, contributing to bringing goods and services of Gia Lai province in particular and Vietnam in general to reach out more and more in the international market"- Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized.
Signing a memorandum of agreement on cooperation on the development of clean raw material areas between the Departments of Industry and Trade of the provinces of 3 countries of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Photo: Huy Toan
At the conference, the signing ceremony of 9 minutes of cooperation agreement on the development of clean raw material areas took place between the Departments of Industry and Trade of the provinces of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. At the same time, 6 memorandums of cooperation were signed between NK Holdings Co., Ltd. and Gia Lai enterprises and the Attapeu provincial government.
Mr. Nguyen Anh Son - Director of the Import-Export Department - assessed: "In the period of 2021-2024, Gia Lai's average annual export turnover has increased steadily over the years. In 2020, Gia Lai's exports ranked 50th out of 63 provinces and cities, by 2024 it will rank 40th out of 63 provinces and cities; In the first 4 months of 2025, the province's export scale increased to rank 27/63 provinces and cities.
From the initial results in export activities to the ASEAN and Japanese markets, it can be affirmed that Gia Lai is on the right track in the export development strategy associated with the restructuring of the agricultural sector and the expansion of the international market".
According to the Director of the Import and Export Department, Gia Lai needs to focus on developing value-added product groups such as specialty coffee, organic pepper, honey, processed fruits and refined wood products. In particular, increasing the proportion of deep-processed products will contribute to improving added value, reducing risks from fluctuations in raw material prices and creating a foundation for sustainable development. For ASEAN, it is necessary to continue to take advantage of border gates and neighborly relations; at the same time, invest in logistics infrastructure, improve quarantine capacity and proactively connect directly with importers.
For Japan, it is necessary to promote the development of standard raw material areas, expand in-depth processing cooperation, improve the quality of packaging, labels and build the brand of provincial products on international distribution channels. Investing in digital transformation, traceability and building product stories are also key factors to help Gia Lai goods conquer fastidious markets.
"New page" in goods trade
Mr. Pham Van Binh - Director of the Department of Industry and Trade - said: Gia Lai has a number of reputable export enterprises in the market such as: Vinh Hiep Co., Ltd., Hoa Trang Company, Tin Thanh Dat Company, Louis Dreyfus Company Vietnam Trading and Processing Co., Ltd. (FDI enterprise), Hung Son Hi-Tech Joint Stock Company, Hoang Anh Gia Lai Joint Stock Company...
In addition to traditional export products, Gia Lai has more than 400 OCOP products with local imprints, meeting international trade standards, with great export potential such as: coffee, pepper, honey, macadamia nuts, cashew nuts, dried fruits, etc. In particular, Phuong Di honey is the first honey product of Vietnam to achieve 5-star OCOP at the national level. Gia Lai's export products have been present in more than 60 countries around the world and have penetrated fastidious markets such as the US, Europe and Japan.
"However, the proportion of exports to Japan is still quite modest, the main export is coffee beans, while many items with great potential such as pepper, cashew nuts, fresh and processed fruits, sweet potatoes, and medicinal herbs have not been strongly exploited. Therefore, with this connection, a new chapter in the cooperation between Gia Lai and Japan and ASEAN countries will be opened," Mr. Binh emphasized.
Japanese businesses visit the exhibition area of Vinh Hiep Co., Ltd. Photo: V.T
Mr. Sytho Tholatha - Acting Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Savannakhet province - said: Savannakhet is a major agricultural production center of Laos, with key products such as rice, noodles, sugarcane, bananas, rubber and livestock. Strengthening logistics cooperation with Gia Lai province will help significantly reduce transportation costs and improve competitiveness in the regional and international markets. Therefore, this is an important opportunity to strengthen economic cooperation between Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Japan, especially in the field of agriculture.
"We highly appreciate the "Japan-CLV Highland Agri-Connect" initiative as a strategic and timely move. We look forward to working with Vietnamese and Japanese partners to promote organic agriculture and agricultural product processing; sharing knowledge and technology in sustainable agricultural production; building a cross-border agricultural product value chain; supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and cooperatives to access the export market," Mr. Sytho Tholatha shared.
Talking to P.V., Ms. Kristina Hagiwara - Chairman of the Board of Directors of NK Holdings Co.,Ltd (Japan) informed: Our goal is to develop into a company that plays a role in ensuring food security for the Southeast Asian market in particular and the Asian market in general. However, currently, Vietnam's output is not completely enough to supply the huge demand of the market.
We will work with the ASEAN Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion in Japan to develop a plan for the development of agricultural products, together cultivating, processing and exporting, forming a high-quality agricultural product area in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
"Our long-term support commitments to businesses in Gia Lai province and the provincial governments of Laos and Cambodia will open up opportunities for businesses in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to enter fastidious markets such as Japan.
After this conference, we will support a number of products such as processed coffee, cashews, honey, pepper, macadamia, bananas, mangoes, dried fruits, and medicinal herbs to enter the Japanese market," Ms. Kristina Hagiwara affirmed.
The delegates visited the booth to introduce typical products of Gia Lai province. Photo: V.T
To ensure quality and technical standards, Mr. Jiro Nagura, Advisor of the Japan National Supermarket Association, said: "Japanese consumers pay great attention to food safety, clean and beautiful packaging, and clear information about the origin. Therefore, small businesses from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam who want to access the Japanese market must focus on 3 important things: food safety, clear labeling and sustainable farming methods."
Expressing his desire to develop the link to a new level, Mr. Phan Ba Kien - Director of BaKa Co., Ltd. - shared: "Vietnam and Cambodia have many similarities in agricultural production. Therefore, through this conference, I look forward to cooperating with your country to develop the raw material supply chain, cooperate in processing products with unique features to create a large supply of goods for the Japanese market.
In fact, in order to meet Japan's requirements, in addition to ensuring the source of goods and standards, businesses are also looking forward to the support of accessing this most demanding market."
