(VOVworld) – A workshop on Vietnam’s small and medium sized enterprises and opportunities for the ASEAN market took place on Wednesday in Hanoi.

The event was organized by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry(VCCI), the International Institution for Sustainable Development and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council. Vice Chairman of the VCCI, Doan Duy Khuong, said Vietnamese enterprises needed to renovate their technology and improve product quality so that they can penetrate further into the markets of ASEAN. It was also important to raise competitiveness among the enterprises, according to Mr. Khuong: "The seminar will facilitate enterprises especially small and medium sized ones, and help give them the ability to access information related to opportunities and challenges when Vietnam participates in the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015 and ASEAN plus 6, such as Japan, South Korea, and China, to take full advantage of the opportunities that will be brought by free trade agreements". 

At the event, participants said that Vietnam has taken full part in the trade liberalization process that is part of the Free Trade Agreements of ASEAN and ASEAN Plus. This process has presented both opportunities and challenges for enterprises, especially as 2015 approaches when the ASEAN Economic Community is established with larger markets.