Friday December 2, 2022
Quảng Nam, December 2, 2022, the Project "Technical Assistance for the ARISE+ Programme in Viet Nam" (ARISE+ Viet Nam) in coordination with the Agency of Foreign Trade (AFT), under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) organised a hybrid workshop on Capacity building on effective implementation of EVFTA’s Rules of Origin (ROO).
Workshop participants joining off-site in Quảng Nam
The workshop is a continuation of EU's technical assistance in promoting effective implementation of EVFTA. At the event, there was the participation and chair of the discussion session of Ms. Do Thi Thu Huong - Deputy Director of AFT and ROO experts. Besides, the workshop also attracted much interest, exchanges and comments from representatives of the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC), sectoral associations, and some businesses exporting to the EU market.
Ms. Đỗ Thị Thu Hương – Deputy Director of AFT addresses the workshop
In her opening speech, Ms. Huong emphasised the importance of EVFTA whose implementation carries a great meaning for both Vietnam and the EU, in the context that the COVID-19 has brought negative impacts on world economy. For the EU, Vietnam is the first developing partner in the Asia-Pacific to have an FTA with the EU, as well as an important bridge for trade and investment between the EU and the Southeast Asia. For Vietnam, the EU is a crucial trade and investment partner and one of its leading export markets. The workshop devoted a plenty of time to training and providing participants with proper understanding of criteria for determining the origin of goods in EVFTA, in comparison with the Generalised System of Preference (GSP), and discussing procedures for issuance of C/O Form EUR.1. Therefore, local businesses can clearly acknowledged the ROO and make use of benefits from EVFTA. During the panel discussion, experts and ministerial officials addressed all questions and provided some recommendations for local exporters during the implementation of EVFTA and after the expiration of GSP.
Co-delivering remarks at the workshop, Mr. Peter Bernhardt, Team Leader of the ARISE+ Viet Nam suggested that Vietnamese ministries, sectors, associations and enterprises need to continue assessing the actual situation of EVFTA implementation and identifying the hindrances, thereby offering practical solutions to further improve the legal framework, enhance labor and environmental standards, combat illegal fishing, and strengthen the close coordination between ministries, branches, representative agencies with associations and businesses. Mr. Bernhardt also expressed his belief that, with technical support from the EU, within the framework of ARISE+ Viet Nam, Vietnamese authorities and sectoral associations would continue to engage with businesses, assisting them to take advantage of EVFTA, aiming to implement Vietnam’s integration strategy in the new context.
Mr. Peter Bernhardt, Team Leader of ARISE+ Viet Nam conveys his welcoming remarks
At the workshop, experts and representatives of the AFT, Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy (MOIT), and the GDVC shared lots of useful and practical information with local businesses. Workshop participants recognised the significance and usefulness of the project activity to associations and businesses, considering it as a great opportunity for opinion-sharing and suggestion-making. Representatives of sectoral associations and local businesses recommended that the ARISE+ Viet Nam would continue to provide support and organise similar workshops so that businesses can timely update information, therefore creating a comprehensive production and business plan for exports to Europe./.
Media contact: Mr. Quyền Vũ, quyen_vu@dai.com
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For workshop document, please visit the link at https://bit.ly/FTA1-2_Documents
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Some photos of the workshop:
Mr. Nguyễn Hữu Nam, Project Expert presents comparison of ROO between EVFTA and GSP
Ms. Trịnh Thị Thu Hiền, Head of ROO Division/AFT gives updates on ROO requirements in EVFTA
Mr. Trần Ngọc Bình, Head of C/O Office in Hochiminh City gives useful guidelines when submitting C/O application with EUR.1 Form
