Russia is emerging as one of the 10 largest importers of tra and basa fish from Vietnam , with turnover expected to reach 100 million USD this year, said an agriculture official.

The volume of Vietnamese tra and basa fish exports to Russia surged sharply although these products have been permitted to enter the market only since June 2009, said Duong Ngoc Minh, Head of the Management Department of Aquatic Product Exports to Russia.

More domestic businesses will be allowed to ship the fish to Russia , while a number of new products will be introduced, making it an attractive and reliable market, according to experts.

To reach this year’s target, local enterprises should focus on improving the quality of products and reducing the rate of ice in fish to 15 percent from 30 percent, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Luong Le Phuong suggested.

Purchasing and processing establishments must ensure food hygiene and safety and have preservation facilities in accordance with their capacity, Phuong added.