Processing aquatic products at the Sao Ta factory in Soc Trang province (Photo: VNA)Organisations interested in contributing to the sustainable development of Vietnam’s fisheries industry signed an agreement on public-private partnership supporting the sector’s growth in Hanoi on September 9.
Initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Directorate of Fisheries, the agreement was co-founded by the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ), Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietnam Institute of Fisheries Economics and Planning, Vietnam Fisheries Society, and World Wide Fund for Nature Vietnam.
Accordingly, the signatories pledge to enhance responsible fisheries practices and support national strategies, programmes, plans and policies relating to responsible and sustainable fisheries in Vietnam.
They will assist in devising incentives, such as offering financial and technical aid to foster the implementation of responsible practices and promoting responsible aquatic products in the domestic and global markets.
Deputy General Director of the Directorate of Fisheries Pham Anh Tuan said Vietnam appreciates contributions from non-governmental organisations and private companies to the sustainable development of the local fishing industry.
He considered the agreement to be the foundation of cooperation between the State and private sectors, which will minimise overlapping activities and forge coordination among the parties.
Meanwhile, VASEP Deputy General Secretary Nguyen Hoai Nam highlighted the agreement’s importance to the sector, looking towards responsible development and meeting strict regulations in export destinations.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam said the signatories should have in-depth discussions on their standing board’s operations and the coordination mechanism. Their partnership is also a channel providing multidimensional information to the State’s managerial agencies to improve local aquatic products’ competitiveness in foreign markets.-VNA
