Chamber plans trade mission to Vietnam

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry is planning a trade mission to Vietnam to further strengthen trade partnership between Cebu and different cities in Vietnam.

CCCI president Ma. Teresa Chan said that the chamber may focus on bringing the academe, tourism stakeholders to Vietnam as these two sectors have the potential to attract the Vietnamese market.

In his recent visit to Cebu, Ambassador of Vietnam to the Philippines Truong Trieu Doung proposed the creation of Vietnam-Philippines Corridor, initially to encourage tourism stakeholders in Cebu to initiate the program, as there are huge opportunities for the two countries to complement in terms of tourism.

While attractions like beaches, nature, adventure and eco-tourism activities, among others are mostly similar, Doung said these countries can well leverage in culture-heritage complementation, food, and Cebu could also strengthen its shopping niche.

In terms of services, the Ambassador acknowledged the more advanced set up in the Philippine tourism sector. These are just the few cooperation initiatives that the countries can start off with, he said.

Chan said the Cebu delegation will also invite Vietnamese businessmen to come to Cebu during the Cebu Business Month 2015 which will be held in June.

The Ambassador also emphasized the two countries' need to improve its trade exchanges as members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The Philippines is among the lowest in terms of trade connection and economic contribution to Vietnam.

Both countries can also craft good platform to develop mutual exchanges in the ESL (English as second Language), while a growing number of Vietnamese are now learning English.

At present, he said there are over 200 Filipinos teaching English in Vietnam, a few of them are from Cebu.

He hopes that there will be more Cebuanos to come to Vietnam to teach English, as well as for Cebu to develop more ESL schools for Vietnamese to get attracted to travel to Cebu primarily to learn English.

Part of the ambassador's proposal is for Cebu and his government through the Embassy to ink a formal deal in this particular service.

He encouraged Cebu's educational institutions, specifically those that offer ESL to link with the Embassy for proper bridging between Vietnamese ESL students and the ESL schools in Cebu.

Chan said these are just two main interests that the planned mission will prioritize, although other industry players like trading, among other may also take part of the trade mission. (FREEMAN)