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Seafood industry ‘lacks vision’
The nation’s seafood industry is yet to formulate a long-term development strategy to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by Viet Nam’s membership in the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
This appraisal emerged at a summing-up meeting held in HCM City on Wednesday by the Vietnamese Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) to review its activities last year and make plans for the coming years.
Tran Thien Hai, VASEP chairman said the export turnover last year was about US$ 4.5 billion, an increase of 19.8 per cent compared to 2007.
The country’s total output of seafood products for export reached 1.2 million tonnes last year for a year-on-year increase of 33.7 per cent. Seafood was currently exported to 138 nations and territories, with main markets being Italy, Spain, Norway, Japan, Russia, Australia, the United State and fellow ASEAN members.
Hai said the industry had made significant achievements thanks to integrated efforts by the whole sector, from offshore fishermen to fish farmers, from processing and exporting enterprises to associations and clubs.
Truong Dinh Hoe, deputy secretary general of VASEP, said that last year, the national trade promotion programme and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had created opportunities for businesses to attend exhibitions in the US, Japan, South Korea, mainland China, Mexico and Russia.
This enabled local businesses to exchange experiences with foreign partners and seek further opportunities to tap the massive export potential that existed for Viet Nam’s seafood products.
The website, www.pangasius-vietnam.com, was launched to popularise Viet Nam’s tra and basa catfish in world markets.
The successful Vietfish 2008 exhibition helped fisheries companies to strengthen business relationships, promote their brands and provide up-to-date information about the global industry.
The VASEP Training and Trade Promotion Center (VASEP.PRO) organised 27 training courses for 1,025 people last year and nine courses in the first five months of this year in Can Tho and HCM City to impart professional knowledge in seafood processing. The courses were taught by specialists from Viet Nam and foreign countries.
VASEP members also attended several international conferences including the Shrimp Industry Development Forum in Zhanjiang, China, to learn about latest technologies in shrimp farming and processing.
Limitations
The meeting also pointed out shortcomings and difficulties experienced by the industry in order to find suitable solutions, especially for the 2009-10 period.
Participants at the meeting pointed out that the industry was adversely affected by the absence of a long-term development strategy to make full use of the country’s WTO membership. Market research and analysis needed to adapt to the change in business environment was still weak.
The lack of close coordination between the Viet Nam Fisheries Association, VASEP and local associations was also highlighted.
Despite the global economic crisis, seafood export turnover is expected to reach $4.5 billion, equal to last year, VASEP said.
Businesses should focus on expanding their markets, particularly seeking new customers in traditional markets through innovative trade promotion campaigns, it was suggested at the meeting.
vietnamnews
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