An Giang strengthens international cooperation and border trade

Unlocking the advantage

After 5 years of implementing the Provincial Party Resolution for the period 2020 - 2025 and implementing the policy on international integration, An Giang province has signed cooperative and friendly relations with 21 localities of 9 countries in the fields of economy , investment, trade, agriculture, fisheries, and tourism.

The province has granted investment policies to 1,507 projects to investors, with a total investment capital of VND 727,631 billion, covering 79,855 hectares, including 57 FDI projects with a total capital of USD 2,777 million. Tourism has developed and become a spearhead economy, with Phu Quoc and Ha Tien island tourism developing strongly, supporting border trade and services.

Customs forces check export clearance procedures at Ha Tien International Border Gate.

Typically, Ha Tien ward takes advantage of being both a coastal area and a border with Cambodia, located on the province's main traffic routes. In recent years, the locality has effectively mobilized resources to develop key economic sectors, invested in completing socio-economic infrastructure, and exploited the potential of border trade and sea tourism. Thanks to that, the economic development space is increasingly expanding, harmoniously connecting the border and the sea.

Enterprises look up customs administrative procedures publicly posted at Ha Tien International Border Gate.

According to the Department of Industry and Trade, An Giang province has expanded its export market and trade relations with over 60 countries and territories; the average export turnover has grown by 7.34% per year. International shipping routes have been expanded. The border gate system, such as Ha Tien, Giang Thanh, Tinh Bien, Vinh Xuong and seaports have been invested and upgraded, contributing to facilitating import and export and trade with Cambodia, Thailand, and Singapore. Import and export turnover and cross-border goods exchange have maintained stable growth compared to the previous term, with diverse export items from rice, aquatic products, processed agricultural products, consumer goods, etc.

The province actively participates in trade promotion activities, international and regional fairs, especially in the fields of seafood, tourism, and consumer goods, gradually building the image of An Giang as an attractive trade destination.

Mr. Tran Van Hai, an employee of Huy Nam Co., Ltd., shared: “Currently, administrative procedures are simplified, businesses are facilitated in importing and exporting goods easily and quickly. Thanks to that, border trade activities between Vietnam and Cambodia have become vibrant, goods are abundant, supply is abundant, meeting the consumption needs of people in the two countries.”

Solve the problem

However, in reality, regional and international integration, cooperation and linkages associated with border economic development in An Giang province still face many limitations. Investment policies and resources for transport infrastructure and logistics services connecting with seaports and production areas are not yet synchronized, and there is a lack of international standard logistics centers and warehouses. The province does not have specific mechanisms and policies for border economic development suitable to the characteristics of the area; the scale of border trade transactions is not commensurate with the potential...

According to the Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of An Giang province, Nguyen Thong Nhat, the border trade economy is not only a driving force for trade growth, but also a lever to promote integration, cooperation and sustainable development of An Giang province. In the 2025 - 2030 term, to fully exploit the potentials, develop the border trade economy, border trade, logistics services, tourism and international cooperation, the Department of Industry and Trade recommends that the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee have synchronous solutions: Prioritizing the upgrading of border gates, building logistics centers, cold storage at border gates and seaports, modern warehouses; perfecting inter-regional traffic connections; synchronously connecting roads, waterways, and maritime routes between production areas - border gates - seaports; prioritizing capital sources to upgrade Tinh Bien, Vinh Xuong, and Ha Tien border gates; seaports and logistics centers.

Seafood processing workers for export.

In the field of regional and international cooperation, An Giang continues to maintain and expand traditional markets (Cambodia, ASEAN, China), increase the exploitation of niche markets, markets with high standards (EU, Japan through FTA). At the same time, strengthen administrative procedure reform, create a favorable business environment; perfect mechanisms and policies to support preferential credit for export enterprises; support enterprises to promote deep processing, increase added value of key products: Rice, tra fish, fruits, vegetables. The province encourages green export enterprises, develop environmentally friendly products with international certificates (ASC, BAP, GlobalGAP ...);

The Department of Industry and Trade will actively support businesses in applying cross-border e-commerce, developing digital business models and logistics services at An Giang province's border gates. Strengthen market management and prevent smuggling and trade fraud, creating a healthy and transparent environment to promote smooth trade.

Article and photos: THUY TRANG

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/an-giang-tang-cuong-lien-ket-hop-tac-quoc-te-giao-thuong-bien-gioi-a462918.html