Chile on Thursday opened its first trade office in Vietnam to promote Chilean exporters' access to the Asian nation, a Chilean Foreign Ministry official said.

Alicia Frohmann, director of the ministry's export promotion office, said the trade office, located in the southern city of Ho Chi Minh, is necessary so that "Chilean exporters can... take advantage of the opportunities created by the new trade agreements signed by the two sides and the growth potential that is shown by such countries as Vietnam."

Frohmann added that Vietnam is the world's third fastest-growing economy with an annual growth rate of 7.6 percent in the 1991-2006 period.

A number of Chilean exports to Vietnam, including salmon portions, wine and fresh fruits, have shown sharp increases in recent years. Frozen oysters, seafood preserves and nuts are among the products that Chile is seeking to export next.