U.S. firms to visit Vietnam for export opportunities

A delegation of representatives from 50 small and medium-sized businesses of the U.S.’s Washington state will pay a visit to Vietnam and China on September 13-24 to look for export opportunities.

A delegation of representatives from 50 small and medium-sized businesses of the U.S.’s Washington state will pay a visit to Vietnam and China on September 13-24 to look for export opportunities.

During the stay in Vietnam, the mission, led by Governor Chris Gregoire, will travel to Hanoi, Hue city and Ho Chi Minh City to discuss cooperation opportunities with partners, aiming to raise an annual export turnover with the Southeast Asian country to $600 million.

This will be the first trip by Gregoire to Vietnam, but she will be the third Washington state governor to come to the nation for trade promotion after Gov. Mike Lowry and Gov. Gary Locke.

The governor said that Vietnam is an emerging market with the economic growth rate projected to grow by 6% over the next three years, adding that many Washington companies are eyeing investments in the country, particularly in renewable energy.

Washington State has been well-known for aircraft, electronics, biotechnology and mining industries.

In 2006, trade between Vietnam and the state reached $530.52 million, including Vietnam’s trade surplus of $469.5 million.

There are about 46,149 Vietnamese American in Washington.

Tags: Vietnam US Trade