TPP will help us to better develop and deeply integrate

That was the opinion of Tran Ngoc Liem, Deputy Director of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) - HCMC branch, about Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP) at the recent dialogue between Binh Duong Customs, VCCI - HCMC branch, and Chinese business community in Binh Duong. Mr. Liem said:

- TPP reached the consensus of 12 countries including Vietnam. Due to some content adjustments, the agreement will take place at late this year or early next year as official speech of Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Vietnam’s chief TPP negotiator Tran Quoc Khanh at the last Government press conference.

Production activities at Dong Hung Industrial JSC (Di An town)

- Do you have any advices for the business community to prepare for successful TPP partnership?

- As informed, Vietnam will be the most beneficial nation as joining TPP. Our most concern is agriculture. But according to Vietnam’s chief TPP negotiator Tran Quoc Khanh, 10 years more, this area then will be affected, because we will implement the agreement according to procedures.

In my opinion, after joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), national agriculture production has many important advances and can compete with other countries in the region in terms of quantity and quality. However, we are still weak in technology. This is a challenge to the whole agricultural sector.  TPP requires agricultural products that must not only meet quality requirements but also surpass technical requirements, for example, no antibiotic residues, plant protection products, food safety, fruit must pass radiation scanner…

- As a body representing business’s interests, according to him you, the State should pay more attention to what to promote advantages of TPP?

- TPP is the higher step of WTO, because negotiation contents of TPP were based on results of the WTO negotiation. In fact, there are still some unsatisfied contents in WTO negotiation, for example, the promulgation of mechanisms, policies: there are still some decrees, circulars must be fixed right after issuing, or laws are taking effect but having no circulars for guidance… This will be carefully considered and adjusted by the Government in the near future.

In particular, Binh Duong province has implemented well investment attraction to develop socio-economic condition. In order to promote TPP advantages, the province should enhance the role of the private business bloc combined with foreign investment attraction.

- Thank you!

Reported by Duy Chi – Translated by Ngoc Huynh