(VOVworld) – Vietnam’s border trade has reached 72 billion USD over the last 5 years. At a seminar organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade on Tuesday, the National Steering Committee for Border Trade said that Vietnam’s border trade with neighboring countries has seen a number of positive changes in recent years.

The Government and ministries have created favorable conditions for buying and selling activities across the border. However, shortcomings still remain regarding management, the lack of warehouses and loading equipment, and poor transport infrastructure.  Minister of Industry and Trade and head of the National Steering Committee for Border Trade Vu Huy Hoang said: “We should continue to negotiate and sign trade and service agreements with neighboring countries. The National Steering Committee for Border Trade will cooperate with the relevant ministries to work out a master plan for border trade between Vietnam and its neighboring countries.”  

Vietnam is striving to raise its border trade turnover to 60 billion USD with China, 2 billion USD with Laos, and 5 billion USD with Cambodia by 2015.