BuenosAires (VNA) - A delegation of Vietnamese businesses had a workingvisit to Argentina from September 8-11 to seek cooperation and investmentopportunities in the South American country.

The trip aimed to help Vietnamese firms understand more about the market,consumption trends, consumers’ demand and requirements of importers inArgentina.

It offered an opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises to make full use of thecomprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Argentina to increase two-way trade,which stands at more than 3 billion USD per year, and expand their markets to otherLatin American countries.

Thetrip also helped suggest orientations for Vietnamese enterprises develop newcommodities for export.

Speakingat a business forum held at the Argentina'sFederal Investment Council withthe participation of local firms, head of the delegation Bui Thi Thanh An - deputy head of the Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministryof Industry and Trade said she hopes meetings between the two countries’enterprises will help the two sides learn more about strengths of each other, thuspaving the way for export-import contracts.

Argentina is a relatively developed economy and the third largest in LatinAmerica, but it only ranks 49th in Vietnam's export markets, she said, addingthat Argentina enjoys a substantial trade surplus with Vietnam.

Vietnamese firms want to promote collaboration with Argentine partners, thus bringingVietnamese goods to Argentina to increase Vietnam’s export turnover to thismarket.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina Dang Xuan Dung, it is adifficult market for foreign goods and Vietnamese products in particular, butwith efforts made by both sides, the goal to improve trade balance and turnoverbetween the two sides is possible.

At the forum, 15 enterprises from the provinces and cities of Vietnam introducedlocal partners to products such as furniture, handicrafts, agriculturalproducts and processed food, coffee, electrical equipment, rubber andconstruction materials.

During its stay, the Vietnamese business delegation worked with representativesfrom Falabella supermarket group.

Vietnamesebusinesses met with Falabella's purchasing department, and were introduced tothe purchasing process, as well as requirements related to quality and socialresponsibility.

Falabella lauded Vietnam’s products and pledged to survey factories in Vietnamsoon.-VNA