A seminar entitled "Vietnam's import-export market 2009" was held in Hanoi on September 30 to recommend measures to ensure the sustainable development of Vietnam's export market in the near future.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Finance has decided to exempt tariffs on 92% of goods imported from Thailand from October 1.

Vietnam's exports to its major markets such as the U.S. and Asia are projected to increase between 7% and 16% in 2010, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

Vietnam is forecast to export $62.54 billion worth of goods in 2010, up 6% from the estimated export value of $59 billion for 2009, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Bui Xuan Khu said in a meeting with the National Assembly's Economic Committee on Sept 18.

Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade said that the country would intensify measures to boost exports in European Union (EU) in the last three months this year.

Vietnam, the second largest rice exporter in the world plans to open the first rice exchange in November with the purpose of reinforcing the trading activities of this type of agricultural product, said Nguyen Van Dong, director of Hau Giang province department of agriculture and rural development.

More than 5,000 tons of frozen meat imports have been left to rot at Ho Chi Minh City ports for several months now.

Marketing firm Global Sources signed an agreement yesterday with the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)'s Exhibition Service Co, VietchamExpo, to promote export of Vietnamese products including textiles, shoes and handicrafts.

Experts say a new government plan to allow foreign firms in Vietnam to export rice this year will boost the competitiveness and prestige of the local grain.

The Vietnam Food Association (VFA) has affirmed that exporters will not lower the rice export price, despite stockpiles of 1.6 million tons at present and possibly 2 million tons by the end of September.