Develop a specific plan to effectively implement the EVFTA Agreement

Morning of August 6,Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc directly chaired the online conference with the theme "Implementing the EVFTA Implementation Plan" with leaders of ministries, branches, 63 provinces, cities and enterprises. Also attending were comrade Pham Binh Minh -Member of the Politburo, Deputy Prime Minister.

At Nghe An bridge, comrade Le Hong Vinh - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired; also attending were leaders of relevant departments, branches and the Provincial Business Association.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chairedOnline conference with the theme "Implementing the EVFTA Implementation Plan" with leaders of ministries, branches, 63 provinces, cities and businesses. Photo: VGP

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Union (EVFTA) officially took effect from August 1. EVFTA opens a new page - a historical page of great significance in the comprehensive partnership and cooperation between Vietnam and the EU. This is considered a "highway", not only creating opportunities for Vietnamese goods to enter the EU market but also opening a big door for positioning Vietnamese brands in the international market.

In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic disrupting global supply chains, the ratification of the EVFTA will have positive impacts on Vietnam in establishing new supply chains with the EU, helping the economy recover and grow well, compensating for the damage caused by the pandemic. The EVFTA will create a big "boost" for Vietnam's exports to the EU, especially for Vietnamese products with many competitive advantages such as textiles, footwear, wooden products, etc.

Delegates attending the online conferenceImplementing the EVFTA Implementation Planat Nghe An bridgeheadPhoto: Thanh Phuc

However, opportunities come with challenges when the pandemic is complicated and the competitiveness of the economy as well as domestic enterprises is still quite limited. Therefore, at the conference, ministries, branches and localities need to focus on discussing groups of issues related to communication work on international economic integration in general and FTA in particular, solutions to effectively utilize commitments; solutions on human resource development, infrastructure development for investment, production development, effective business as well as issues on competition in the domestic market with EU products.

This is the first time the Government has organized a separate conference with the full participation of all relevant ministries, branches, agencies and localities to discuss and disseminate solutions and methods to implement an FTA in a synchronous and comprehensive manner.

EVFTA is a great opportunity forVietnamese enterprises, but EVFTA also creates pressure forcing domestic Vietnamese enterprises to change themselves, to raise themselves to the level of production and business activities in the world.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc

FOCUS ON IMPLEMENTING 5 BASIC CONTENTS

Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh approved the Government's plan to implement the EVFTA, focusing on five major groups of work. Photo: Internet

Speaking at the conference, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh approved the plan to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Union (EVFTA). Accordingly,The Prime Minister has approved the development of the EVFTA Implementation Plan to assign tasks and responsibilities to relevant agencies and organizations, decide on direction, management and other measures to fully and effectively implement this Agreement.

The Government's EVFTA implementation plan has been issued, focusing on five major groups of tasks including: Propaganda and dissemination of information about the EVFTA and the markets of EU countries; Law and institutional development; Measures to improve competitiveness and develop human resources; Guidelines and policies for trade unions and workers' organizations at enterprise establishments; Social security policies, environmental protection and sustainable development.

Nghe An's textile and garment export turnover accounts for about 60% of total export turnover to European countries. Photo: Thanh Phuc

In Nghe An, the export turnover of goods between Nghe An enterprises and the European market reaches about 50 million USD/year, accounting for 6 - 7% of the total export turnover of goods of the province. Main export items: Textiles (accounting for about 60%); processed fruits and fruit juices (30%); other items such as: tea, pepper, plastic additives, pine essential oil, tiles... accounting for about 10% are exported to the markets of 26/27 countries in the EU bloc, mainly the UK, Germany, France.

Import turnover from Europe reaches 50 - 60 million USD/year, mainly on the following items: machinery, equipment; cargo ships; textile and garment materials, leather and footwear;...

After this conference, Nghe An will develop a specific plan to effectively implement the EVFTA Agreement. Accordingly, it will develop specific tasks, roadmaps, and estimated budget for implementing the Government's plan to implement EVFTA in the province; Assign responsibilities and assign progress of each task to relevant departments, branches, localities, and units.

In the context of the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, tea processing factories in Thanh Chuong are making efforts to shift the tea export market to European markets. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Concluding the conference, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc requested ministries, branches and localities to be more proactive and active in implementing the EVFTA Implementation Plan; strengthen coordination, ensure consistency in the process of applying and implementing the Agreement's commitments; focus on human resource training, improve state management capacity in international economic integration; and promote propaganda about the Agreement's contents.

At the same time, it affirmed that the Government will play a role in creating development, creating all conditions for businesses to grasp and take advantage of the opportunities brought about by the EVFTA.

Thanh Phuc