With seafood export revenues declining over 8 per cent year-on-year this quarter, it is important for the domestic aquaculture sector to maintain production and boost exports.
Speaking at a meeting in HCM City last Friday to review seafood exports, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat said despite the economic challenge, "we should seek out ways to increase exports while ensuring the quality and prestige of Vietnamese seafood products in the world market."
Figures from the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) show the country’s seafood exports in the Jan-Mar period reached nearly 167,000 tonnes worth US$579.3 million, a year-on-year fall of 8 per cent in volume and value.
VASEP attributed the drop to lower demand from major consumption markets like the EU, the US and Japan as well as difficulties in getting raw material.
Until March 15, some 65 local seafood products had been exported to 122 markets, down 37 over last year, with seafood exports to all major markets all going down, except for China, Australia and ASEAN that recorded two-digit growth.
Phat said that to ensure quality of seafood exports, a consistent process was needed from breeding facilities to processing factories and urged local quality control departments to guide and monitor farmers in implementing proper farming techniques.
He said the ministry would also intensify product hygiene and sanitation inspections.
Phat said the Government had pumped more capital into trade promotion programmes but asked VASEP to submit clearer proposals for the industry.
Regarding monetary and exchange rate policies, the Government was considering widening the trading band for foreign exchange transactions to favour businesses the most, Phat said.
He said some businesses had already had access to preferential loans provided from the economic stimulus package.
The ministry would propose that the Ministry of Industry and Trade reconsider power rates during the morning peak-time hours, saying the latest hike in power prices would hurt seafood exporters now already struggling in a tough market situation.
The meeting highlighted other issues facing the aquaculture sector, including planning of breeding areas, infrastructure investment, production of breeds and feed.
The minister said the Government had set aside VND4 trillion ($235.3 million) as part of the stimulus scheme for localities to build and upgrade aquaculture facilities. |
