Key industrial export sectors include the textile and garment industry, targeted to post annual earnings of nearly 10 billion USD footwear manufacturing with 6.5 billion USD, electronics and computer component makers with 4 billion USD, and the wood products with 5 billion USD by 2010, he said.

The ministry is also planning to step up exports of products including electric wire and cable, ships, mechanical products, and handicrafts, with a view to reducing the nation's reliance on the export of raw materials and minerals.

To achieve its targets, the industry ministry has issued a 2006-2010 market development plan. It outlines targets for the proportion of exports to Asian markets to decrease from 48.8 percent to 45.5 percent by 2010, and those to the European market to increase to 20 percent from the current 18 percent. It also says exports to the North American market should increase to 24 percent from 21 percent while those to African markets will also grow to nearly 3 percent of total exports by 2010.

Although the proportion of exports to Asian markets is expected to decline, it remains the nation's largest market for industrial products. ASEAN bloc nations, Japan, and China remain important markets, but the ministry is also seeking to develop further trade with India, and the Republic of Korea.

In addition, the industrial sector is strengthening its trade promotion activities and researching new markets, so as to ensure Viet Nam's export products such as seafood, textiles, footwear, and electronics remain competitive, said Duoc.

The director also emphasised the importance of ensuring enterprises have access to market information to help them implement trade development plans.

Viet Nam earned 24.5 billion USD from the export of industrial products in 2005, accounting for 76 percent of the nation's total export revenue, a 23.1 percent increase over 2004. Businesses under the Ministry of Industry remitted 37.886 trillion VND in taxes to the state, an increase of 44 percent over 2004, it reported./.