Emirates SkyCargo has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Investment and Tourism Promotion Centre of Ho Chi Minh City to jointly explore opportunities to promote trade to and from Vietnam.

According to Emirates, SkyCargo transported almost 50,000 tonnes of Vietnamese exports and imports during the 2017-18 financial year, an increase of close to 66% compared to 2015-16.

Emirates started operations in Hanoi in 2008, and has since scaled up the number of freighter and passenger flights to both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, supporting Vietnamese businesses in accessing the global market. The carrier has also been able to support businesses from other Vietnamese cities such as Da Nang through its partners.

In 2017, SkyCargo’s volumes of perishables including rambutans and lychees from Vietnam to Dubai grew fivefold. The carrier currently offers a total weekly cargo capacity of over 1,400 tonnes for Vietnamese exports and imports, with two Boeing 777 freighter services a week and a daily 777-300ER passenger flight to Ho Chi Minh City as well as three 777F services a week and a daily 777-300ER to Hanoi.

Over the last five years, SkyCargo has transported close to 47,000 tonnes of exports from Ho Chi Minh City, including fruits and vegetables, garments, sporting apparel and fresh fish, as well as approximately 65,000 tonnes of exports from Hanoi, consisting mainly of electronic goods such as mobile phones.

The General Department of Vietnam Customs estimates that the value of exports and imports in the country grew by 13% in the first half of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.