Prague (VNA) – Measures to gain Vietnamese products’ foothold in the Czech Republic have been put forth during a visit to the European country by Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Associ📖ation of Small and Medium Enterprises (VASME) To Hoai Nam.

His visit from February 15-17 was designed to seek opportunities to boost cooperation between Vietnamese and Czech enterprises while fostering Vietnamese exports to the country, as well as promoting shipments to the EU market. The Vietnamese Government is paying due attention to developing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in 2016 and 2017, Nam said during his meetings with President of the Czech Management Association (CMA) Ivo Gajdos and Vice Chairman of the Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Crafts (AMSP). Vietnamese SMEs have advantages in agriculture, aquaculture, garments and leather shoes, among others, Nam highlighted, adding that they still need Czech high-tech support in agricultural processing, mechanics to tackle environmental issues and support industries. The CMA President and the AMSP Vice President affirmed cooperation potential between the two countries’ SME enterprises, pledging to help Czech businesses transfer technology to Vietnamese partners, including agricultural machines. Orientations to address barriers to cooperation between the two sides were brought forward, Nam told a Vietnam News Agency correspondent. Vietnam’s main exports to the Czech Republic are comprised of coffee, pepper, fresh and dried fruits, peanuts, green tea, rice, rubber, seafood, footwear, textiles, handicraft products and computer spare parts while importing machinery, chemicals, dairy products, pharmaceuticals and plastics. The Czech Republic considers Vietnam one of the 12 highest potential markets with trade hitting 670 million USD in 2014.-VNA