New rules set for operation of foreign trade promotion agencies

The Vietnamese Government has issued the Decree 28/2018/ND-CP, which stipulates principles for activities of foreign trade promotion agencies in Vietnam (Illustrative photo: VNA)

The decree said that the agencies, including governmental and non-governmental organisations, associations and equivalent need to set up a representative office in Vietnam in order to engage in trade promotion activities in the country. They are not allowed to establish more than one representative office in a province or centrally-run city.

These agencies do not include foreign entrepreneurs, non-government organisations, agencies for cooperation and research, cultural-educational institutes and other kinds of foreign organisations. 

Representative offices of foreign trade promotion agencies are not allowed to carry out activities to make direct profit in Vietnam. The head and personnel of those representative offices have to be registered with authorised agencies.

The recruitment of foreigners working in such representative offices in Vietnam must be in line with Vietnam’s regulations as well as international treaties that Vietnam is a member.

Foreign trade promotion agencies have to bear responsibility for all activities of their representative office’s activities in Vietnam, according to the decree.

VNA