Decision No. 553/QD-TTg On the establishment and strengthening of Vietnam Trade Offices in the Middle East, Americas, and Europe

Pursuant to …;

On the establishment and strengthening of Vietnamese trade offices in the Middle East, Americas, and Europe

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PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;
Pursuant to the Ordinance on Representative Offices of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Abroad dated December 2, 1993, and Decree No. 183/CP dated November 18, 1999 of the Government guiding certain provisions of the Ordinance on Representative Offices of Vietnam Abroad;
Pursuant to Decision No. 196/2007/QĐ-TTg dated December 28, 2007 of the Prime Minister approving the restructuring plan for organizational structure and staffing of Vietnamese representative offices abroad;
Considering the proposal of the Minister of Industry and Trade.

Pursuant to …;

Article 1.

1. Establish four trade offices in the following countries: Israel, with the office located in Tel Aviv; Venezuela, with the office located in the capital city of Caracas; Panama, with the office located in the city of Panama; Saudi Arabia, with the office located in the capital city of Riyadh; and establish a branch office in Houston, United States, with the branch office located in Houston instead of establishing a branch office in New York, United States.

2. Strengthen two additional staff positions for the trade office in the EU - Belgium, with the office located in Brussels - Kingdom of Belgium.

3. The maximum number of staff positions for each newly established trade office and branch office shall not exceed two. Initially, each newly established trade office and branch office will be allocated one staff position.

4. The officer responsible for the trade office in the EU - Belgium shall be appointed to the rank of Commercial Counselor. Officers and civil servants at other trade offices shall be appointed diplomatic ranks from Attaché, First Secretary, Second Secretary to Third Secretary. The dispatching and allocation of officers and the appointment of diplomatic ranks for officers working at trade offices shall be proposed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall decide on the diplomatic rank and grade according to the Ordinance on Diplomatic Rank and Grade and current regulations of the State.

Article 2. Implementation

1. The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Home Affairs to implement the establishment and strengthening of Vietnamese trade offices abroad according to the following schedule:

a) In 2009, establish two trade offices in Israel and Venezuela, and strengthen the staff positions of the trade office in the EU - Belgium;

b) During 2009-2010, establish two trade offices in Saudi Arabia and Panama, and a branch office in Houston, United States.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall define the specific functions and responsibilities of the trade offices; prepare the state budget estimate for the establishment, strengthening, and operation of the trade offices according to the annual implementation schedule, and submit it for approval by competent authorities.

2. The Ministry of Home Affairs shall allocate staff positions for the trade offices in accordance with this Decision.

3. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall appoint diplomatic ranks for officers dispatched to work at the trade offices specified in Clause 4, Article 1 of this Decision, based on the proposal of the Ministry of Industry and Trade in accordance with the Ordinance on Diplomatic Rank and Grade, Decree No. 13/CP dated March 16, 1996 of the Government guiding the implementation of the Ordinance on Diplomatic Rank and Grade, and current regulations of the State.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall direct Vietnamese representative offices in host countries to arrange offices, workplaces, and housing for trade office officers working at Vietnamese representative offices in host countries.

In case Vietnamese representative offices in host countries do not have sufficient conditions to arrange offices, workplaces, and housing for trade office officers, the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall be responsible for proactively renting offices, workplaces, and housing for officers working at trade offices and branch offices according to the state budget allocated in the annual budget estimate of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

4. The Ministry of Finance shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant ministries and sectors to prepare the state budget estimate of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, ensuring adequate funding for the establishment and strengthening of trade offices in the aforementioned countries as stipulated in this Decision.

Article 3. This Decision shall take effect from the date of signing.

Article 4. The Ministers of Industry and Trade, Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Home Affairs, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and heads of government-affiliated agencies are responsible for implementing this Decision./.