Seminar seeks ways to boost seafood exports

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on November 2 held a seminar in Ho Chi Minh City on a programme to boost seafood exports to 2015 and achieve even greater export sales by 2020.

MARD Deputy Minister Luong Le Phuong said although the fisheries sector recorded impressive growth, it should identify priority for major staples as well as major fishing areas such as Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa and Binh Dinh central provinces. Tuna, lobster and clam can be key products, he suggested.

He said the country could earn between US$7-8 billion from seafood exports by 2015.

According to MARD, Vietnam plans to maintain seafood export growth between 8-10 percent a year with an export turnover of US$6.5 billion by 2015. The country also plans to win trust and build a strong trademark for the seafood processing industry and expects to earn US$8 billion from exports by 2020.

The ministry also warned that importers would tighten protection measures through trade and technical barriers. Market regulations will focus on not only food safety but also environmental protection, social responsibility and protection of resources.

Vietnamese businesses, therefore, need to review management, speed up modernisation and quality control systems in order to raise competitiveness, the MARD official stressed. – VOVNews

Tags: Vietnam Seafood, Vietnam seafood exports