On the afternoon of September 15, the 970 Agricultural Product Connection Forum Team coordinated with the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to organize the Forum to connect agricultural product consumption in the Dutch market, the Nordic countries and connect international agricultural businesses. 

At the Forum, Mr. Nguyen Minh Tien, Director of the Center for Agricultural Trade Promotion, said that the Nordic region and the Netherlands, although the population is not large, the export turnover from Vietnam to this market is very impressive. especially with products such as rice, coffee, fruit, and cashew nuts. The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) brings many opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises to export to the EU. 

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang Thuy, Counselor of the Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden, said that the Nordic region consists of five countries: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Iceland. These are small countries with open and modern economies. Although the population is small, the income level is high.

In the EU, Vietnamese enterprises have only focused on exploiting the traditional Western European market and still "left open" the large Nordic market potential. Nordic countries are always at the forefront of environmental protection, so the issues of environmental protection, green consumption and the trend towards sustainable production are hot topics in the Nordic region. This affects people's consumption behaviors.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang Thuy added that Nordic people increasingly tend to reduce meat consumption and increase consumption of seafood and meat substitutes. Therefore, food products with high protein content, which can replace meat, are easily accepted.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Toan, Director of the Department of Agricultural Product Processing and Market Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the government's socio-economic recovery program has entered the stage of promoting the economy, thereby achieving positive results, in which the agricultural sector still ensures comprehensive growth.

"Through the Forum to connect agricultural product consumption in the Dutch market and the Nordic countries, it can be seen that the Nordic market has a lot of room for development and requires very high and strict standards. However, that does not mean that we consider it difficult. The question is, what "weapon" do we choose to conquer this market? To do so, we need to rely on complete knowledge and information. For example, the selection of Vietnam's strong products includes "light-weight" but high-value products for export to the Nordic market," said the Director of the Department of Agricultural Processing and Market Development. analysis product.

The Director of the Department of Agricultural Product Processing and Market Development made 6 proposals and recommendations for Vietnamese agricultural products to conquer this demanding market, including the need for an overall connection between industry associations. Customers, state management agencies, and commercial counselors in the selection of products with sufficient strength and strength, along with the increasing processing content, the care of the business community for the packaging stage, packaging, labels, and intellectual property... Vietnamese trade agencies in the Nordic region in particular and internationally in general build a database system of businesses in the area and of agricultural product importers in each market. Associations and industries need the companionship of consulting units in branding and product branding. At the same time, policy recommendations range from micro-credit to the formation of raw material areas, the construction of processing facilities for small and medium-sized enterprises and cooperatives, etc. In parallel, training in sales skills for cooperatives and other cooperatives. small and medium enterprises. In particular, Vietnamese businesses need to be aware of themselves to ensure and increase quality to avoid affecting the reputation of the industry as well as the reputation of Vietnamese agricultural products.

Source: Han Nguyen – E-newspaper of Communist Party of Vietnam