Seafood firms fish for global partners

Seafood enterprises will be looking for new partners when the largest fisheries exhibition in Southeast Asia (VIETFISH 2010) opens in HCM City from June 12-14.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday in HCM City, organisers of AsiaViet Nam Fisheries International Exhibition 2010 said this would be the 12th exhibition to promote Viet Nam’s seafood industry to the world.

The event is expected to attract 170 companies from different countries including Malaysia, South Korea, Yemen, the Philippines, Australia, China and Pakistan.

With 283 pavilions, an increase of 21 per cent over last year, the expo will showcase products and services including production, processing, packaging, machines, and chemicals.

VIETFISH 2010 exhibition has been advertised in famous international seafood magazines including Intrafish, France’s Produit de la mer, Middle East’s Amex and Asia’s Inforfish and Food Industry to attract new buyers.

The exhibition will be held in Sai Gon Exhibition and Convention Centre by the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers.

Truong Dinh Hoe, general secretary of the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, said in the first four months, domestic seafood exports reached US$1.27 billion, an increase of 20.1 per cent over the same period last year.

Frozen shrimp exports reached the highest value of more than $426 million, an increase of 29.5 per cent compared to the same period last year. Tra and basa catfish exports ranked second with an increase of 12.3 per cent

Up till April this year, Viet Nam’s seafood products were present in 163 markets with more than 85 different types. The European Union is the top importer of Vietnamese seafood at $317 million, followed by the United States with 13,000 tonnes worth more than $40 million.

This year, Viet Nam’s seafood industry is expected to export more than 500,000 tonnes of tra catfish and 200,000 tonnes of shrimp aiming to reach export value of $4.5 billion. — VNS

Tags: VietFish 2010, Vietnam Seafood, Vietnam seafood sector