After listening to the Director of the Import-Export Department report on the results of the implementation of the duties of the Import-Export Department in 2021, the plan orientations that the Department is expected to implement in 2022 and the speeches of representatives of a number of specialized departments. subject of the Import-Export Department, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien delivered a guiding speech at the Conference.

The Minister affirmed that in 2021, import and export activities have achieved positive results, completing and exceeding the targets assigned by the Government. Total import and export turnover reached 668.5 billion USD, up 23% over the previous year; in which exports reached 336.3 billion USD, up 19%. The trade balance had a trade surplus of 4.1 billion USD. These are very impressive results, making an important contribution to the country's economic growth amid many difficulties caused by the Covid-19 epidemic. In particular, the Import-Export Department has done a good job of advising the leaders of the Ministry to advise the Government and the Prime Minister on many solutions to remove difficulties and clear the flow of export and import goods.

On behalf of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the leadership of the Ministry, the Minister praised and highly appreciated the positive results of import and export activities in 2021.

However, the Minister also acknowledged that import and export still have unsustainable factors. Export scale increased, but added value was still low; Many industries still export raw and semi-processed products and have to import processed products. The proportion of domestic enterprises in total exports is still low. In the structure of agricultural product exports through land border gates, the form of border trade still accounts for a high proportion, leading to local congestion.

The Minister assessed that 2022 still has many difficulties and challenges. Trade protectionism is increasingly evident, many countries focus on developing domestic production and trade. Trade conflicts remain a threat globally.

In that context, in 2022, the Minister proposed the Import-Export Department to note a number of contents:

Firstly, continue to organize research, thoroughly grasp the views, guidelines and resolutions of the Party, firmly grasp the world economic developments, update import and export policies of countries. Thereby, the Department needs to advise on import-export mechanisms and policies suitable to the situation at home and abroad. Import-export mechanisms and policies are not only in the direction of promoting exports, but also need to associate import and export with the general economic development of the whole country, promoting sustainable import and export development.

Second, the Import-Export Department needs to be proactive in consulting policies, promptly detecting and proposing solutions to hot issues and strategic products, focusing on protecting the interests of Vietnamese enterprises; continue to ensure the promulgation of legal documents, especially documents on the internalization of international commitments with progress and quality. In consulting work, it is necessary to focus on timeliness, predictability, increase the quality of advice, give possible solutions, meet the requirements of state management on import and export.

Third, in the process of policy implementation, the Import-Export Department needs to coordinate with localities to advise on adjusting industry strategies, selecting products with local strengths to include in development plans. trade and industry, socio-economic planning of localities in order to effectively exploit opportunities and limit challenges in implementing commitments to international economic integration, deeply participating in supply chains and global value chain.

Fourth, the Import-Export Department needs to strengthen propaganda and guidance for businesses to take advantage of opportunities from international commitments; information to businesses about market opportunities, the general direction is to support Vietnamese enterprises to improve their competitiveness, promote their comparative advantages, and be able to integrate with the region and the world.

Fifth, the Import-Export Department needs to coordinate with units of ministries, branches, localities and Departments and Departments of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Departments of Foreign Markets, and Overseas Vietnamese Trade Offices to exchange information. change, promote production activities according to market signals, produce products that meet standards and regulations for export to major markets and FTA partner markets.

In addition, the Conference also heard Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Khanh directing a number of specific issues in the development and implementation of import-export policies to ensure sustainable import and export development. balance, bring high added value and make positive contributions to the overall economic development of the country.

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