Sang was speaking at a meeting of entrepreneurs who received the 2012 National Trademark Award.

Last year, enterprises participating in the award programme signed contracts totaling more than US$1 billion. Their business helped the nation's growth despite difficulties inside and outside the country.

Sang said great efforts had been made by the programme council and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to popularise the country's brand names.

Sang also told them to continue creating favourable conditions for businesses to reach their targets, especially since the domestic and global challenges were forecast to continue.

Brands programme

With many foreign products actively gaining a foothold in the domestic market, local companies are finding it difficult to compete. To address the problem, the Prime Minister has approved the National Brand Programme with a view to promoting the image of Vietnamese products. The National Brand designation will be attached to a diverse range of high-quality products.

The programme has attracted active support of the local business community, hoping that it will help them build and enhance their brand names on both local and international markets, said Minister of Trade and Industry Vu Huy Hoang.

The programme aimed to increase competitiveness of Vietnamese products and services on both local and international markets, helping spur exports of industrial and processed products while limiting the export of unprocessed products and raw materials, Hoang said.

The National Brand designation would also help sharpen consumer awareness of both local and foreign products and help boost the image of Vietnamese products for quality and innovation, he said.

One of the primary elements of the programme would be to assist businesses gain market access and affirming the prestige of their products. Through the national trade promotion programme, businesses and associations would have chance to favourably impress local and international distributors, Hoang said.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh said that products selected to receive the National Brand designation would be expected to represent the pinnacle of their industry and keep pace with national value.

The 54 firms initially selected to join the programme operate in engineering, textile and garment, leather and footwear, financial services, electronics, IT, energy, and food products industries.