Factors affecting Vietnam's handicrafts export

Abstract

With the rapid development of international business activities and internationalization, export plays an important role in the existence and growth of businesses. Handicrafts, despite not being an essential product, have always been rated as a potential product for sustainable development and export. In Vietnam, a country with a lot of long-existing traditional handicraft villages, the export of handicrafts has always been considered as an advantageous activity that largely contributes to the economy as well as the society. According to statistics from the Vietnam Handicraft Exporter Association, every 1 million USD worth of handicraft export creates profit 5 to 10 times higher than that of the exploitation industry; as well as provides work for three to five thousand employees. Despite this fact, in the last few years the handicraft export in Vietnam has been modest and not fulfilled fully to its potential. In comparison with other export products, the export turnover of handicrafts still accounts for a low proportion. Recognizing this issue, the present study developed a model to analyze the effects of some certain factors to the handicraft export activity in Vietnam. The results of this paper will contribute to current literature as well as propose some solutions to promote the handicraft export in Vietnam. In today’s integration process, export is defined as a basic form of international trading activity. According to Article 28 of Vietnam Commercial Law No. 36/2005/QH11, “Export of goods means the bringing of goods out of the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam or into special zones in the Vietnamese territory, which are regarded as exclusive customs zones according to the provisions of law”.