Processing canned pineapple products for export at a factory of An Giang Agricultural Import-Export JSC(Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - A workshop discussing opportunities forVietnamese businesses to increase export of agricultural and aquatic products toRussia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) was held by the Vietnam Chamber ofCommerce and Industry (VCCI), the Vietnam Trade Office in Russia and theRussian trade representative office in Vietnam, on November2 in Hanoi.

In his opening remarks, Nguyen Tuan Hai, Director of the International Relations Department of VCCI said the fruitful political and diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Russia will be a foundation and favourable condition for economic, trade and investment relations between the two countries to develop strongly in the coming time. 

Since the Vietnam - EAEU Free Trade Agreement (Vietnam-EAEU FTA) officially entered into force inOctober 2016, the deal has become a solid foundation for trade andinvestment cooperation between the two countries, he said, adding that this pact also serves as an effective tool and good support for Vietnamese enterprises topromote the export of their strong products, especially agricultural and aquatic productsto the Russian market, as well the EAEU.

Tsygankov Kirill from the Russian trade representative office in Vietnam said that economicand trade cooperation is an important factor in the comprehensive strategicpartnership between Russia and Vietnam, noting that since the Vietnam - EAEU FTA took effect in 2016, 98percent of tariff lines have been cut to zero percent.

He spoke highly of the prospect of Vietnam'sfresh fruit export to Russia, as the Southeast Asian country boasts a variety of freshtropical fruits and nutritious vegetables.

He recommended that Vietnamese businesses transportgoods to Russia by rail, saying that Russia's railway company and Vietnam's Railway Transport andTrade JSC (RATRACO) have successfully tested a container train connectingVietnam and Russia via China's territory, which took around 2-3 weeks.

For high-value and perishable goods, air freightmay be considered, he said.

In the future, if the exchange of goods increasesbetween the two countries, it is necessary to organize direct transport ofgoods by sea without having to transit in ports in Hong Kong (China) or China and the Republic of Korea, in order to significantly shorten the time of goodstransportation, he said.

ꦯ Kirill advised Vietnamese enterprises to be more active in promoting theirgoods in the Russian market through e-commerce platforms./.