Viet Nam had huge potential to boost trade with Cambodia, said experts at the 10th anniversary of the high-quality Vietnamese goods fair to promote trade with the country in the southern An Giang Province.
The fair, co-organised by Ho Chi Minh City and An Giang provincial authorities, takes place every year.
"Ten years ago, trade turnover between An Giang and Cambodia stood at only US$100 million per year and few Vietnamese commodities could be found in Cambodia. Today the figure has increased by between five or seven fold," said Huynh Thi Nhan, municipal party committee deputy secretary of Ho Chi Minh City.
"High-quality Vietnamese goods and other commodities are becoming increasingly popular with Cambodian consumers," she said.
Nhan attributed the success of each fair to good and long-term co-ordination between leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and An Giang.
Up to 65-70 per cent of Vietnamese goods to the Cambodian market are exported via border gates in An Giang.
Viet Nam's export staples to the country include petrol products, steel, cement, fruits and vegetables, garments, wooden furniture and pharmaceuticals.
In particular, Viet Nam exported $1.8 million worth of fruits and vegetables to Cambodia in the first six months of last year, a year-on-year increase of 75.4 per cent.
Many Cambodian consumers say that previously they would purchase Chinese and Thai products, but recently through the fair and other promotional activities, they have shown a preference for Vietnamese commodities thanks to their quality, diverse designs and reasonable prices.
However, bilateral trade turnover between the two nations still falls behind its potential, according to experts.
Chairwoman of the High-quality Vietnamese Goods Club Vu Kim Hanh said: "Cambodian clients prefer Vietnamese chemicals and cosmetics, raw materials for the farming sector and food. We will continue bolstering trade promotion activities and adopting appropriate strategies. It is an extremely promising market, which opens the door to other neighbouring economies."
Experts say that at least 100,000 overseas Vietnamese currently live in Cambodia, and they can act as a bridge to enhance trade and investment in the country./.