Visitors to the expo. (Photo: VNA)

The event, held on March 2-3 at the Excel convention center in London, attracted 500 businesses and 7,000 visitors. It offered a major opportunity for Vietnamese firms to promote their products, and seek business partners and export opportunities to the UK and Europe.

At the expo, Vietnamese firms and their UK partners signed three strategic economic cooperation agreements totaling 300 million GBP (400.45 million USD).

They comprised an agreement on credit support for Vietnamese exporters, another on legal assistance for firms joining the UK and European markets, and one on the provision of tourism services on a cruise ship in the UK.

Trade Counsellor in the UK Nguyen Canh Cuong said Viet Nam has emerged as a consumer goods manufacturer meeting European standards. The event helped Vietnamese firms, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), promote their products to global consumers and seek export opportunities.

Director of Evergreen Trade Capital Marc Meyer-Webb said, together with traditional export items of foodstuffs and garment-textiles, Viet Nam is boosting shipments of electronic devices and machinery which the UK has high demand for and can be a potential market for the Southeast Asian country.

To optimize opportunities to take part in major international fairs like the White Label Expo, companies are advised to prepare product specifications in English, and connect with Vietnamese firms operating overseas.

In addition, they need to gather information on the websites of Vietnamese embassies and agencies at home, such as the Ministry of Industry and Trade in order to stay informed of international trade events, as well as capitalize on trade promotions and export opportunities.