A conference to promote trade between Vietnamese and Nigerian businesses was held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 2.

The conference was jointly held by the Department of Africa, Westernand South Asian Markets (DAWSAM) under the Vietnamese Ministry ofIndustry and Trade (MoIT) and the Nigerian Department of Commerce andIndustry.

The event aims to boost bilateral tradepromotion activities and economic cooperation as well as create theright conditions for businesses from both countries to seek outinvestment opportunities.

According to Deputy Headof DAWSAM Tran Quang Huy, Vietnam is always keen to strengthencooperation with Nigeria as it is a huge potential market and wouldenable Vietnamese goods to penetrate West and Central African countries.However, he also stated that the current level of trade turnover stillhas not met the full potential of both economies because of inadequatemutual understanding and trade promotion activities.

The Nigerian Chargé d’affaires in Vietnam Tunde O.Ajisomo urged forcomprehensive trade cooperation between businesses from both countriesand said he is committed to supporting Vietnamese enterprises withadministrative formalities as well as providing the necessaryinformation.

The trade turnover between Vietnamand Nigeria has risen steadily recently, reaching 140 million USDfor the first nine months of this year./.