6 Importers from Vietnam Officially Visited Smolensk

A formal reception was held for a foreign delegation from Vietnam on June 24-25. Representatives of 6 large Vietnam distributors of Russian goods, who are interested in importing the foodstuffs manufactured by Smolensk producers, visited our region. 11 local food manufacturers participated in negotiations. One of them, a large exporter of beverages, is already working on an export contract in cooperation with its partners. The visit was arranged by the Export Support Centre of the Smolensk Region.

The year of 2019 was announced to be the Cross Year of Russia and Vietnam. Our countries have had longstanding bonds of friendship. The recent visit of Smolensk exporters to Hanoi aimed to participate in the Vietnam Expo 2019 International Trade Fair, proved the interest of Vietnamese customers to the Russian goods. There is continued strong demand for meat and confectionary products, Russian beverages, canned goods and condensed milk. Export of the Russian goods to Vietnam is facilitated by the Free Trade Agreement with Vietnam which is currently in force.

The negotiations were held in the form of a round-table discussion in Veranda Hotel conference hall. On the second day Vietnamese businessmen visited Smolensk enterprises and had a look at the production facilities of the local producers who attended the round table discussion, such as Varnitsa SMK, Gagarin canning plant, Smolensky cannery, Romanishin IE.

“At present Russian foodstuffs are especially relevant for the Vietnamese market. In particular, milk and confectionery are highly valued for their quality. We also have strong sells for Russian sunflower oil and beverages,” commented Deputy CEO of SINH TIN CO, a company from Vietnam.

The Vietnamese producers were also presented edible souveniers from Smolensk. The foreign visitors were particularly impressed with the fruit sweets under the brands of Smolenskie Konfekty and Smolenskaya Smokva. The reason for the keen interest of the Vietnamese importers is that dried and candied fruits as well as any products made therefrom are extremely popular with the elderly generation from Vietnam.