Vietnam aims to gain 5 billion USD from farm produce exports by 2020. (Photo: vneconomy.vn)Hanoi (VNA) – Boasting 1.8 million hectares of fruit and vegetableplantation, with many various zones applied advanced technologies intoproduction, Vietnam aims to gain 5 billion USD from farm produce exports by2020.
General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association Dang PhucNguyen said at a recent forum that the target is achievable as Vietnamese fruithave won the taste of both domestic customers and those in 60 countries andterritories.
Dozens of Vietnamese fruits have met stringent standards to enter fastidiousmarkets. Most recently, mango earned permission to enter the US market inFebruary after ten years of negotiation, following dragon fruit, longan,rambutan, litchi and star apple.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s PlantProtection Department, quarantine checks are conducted meticulously before shippingfruits to such choosy markets as the US, Japan and Russia.
Besides, Vietnamese veggie and fruit exporters have ample opportunities toexpand their markets after the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement forTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) took effect early this year and the EU-VietnamFree Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is expected to come into force soon.
Sharing the view, Deputy Head of the Asia-Africa Market Department under theMinistry of Industry and Trade Do Quoc Hung said Vietnamese fruits andvegetables have received good feedback from customers in Japan and the Republicof Korea (RoK), which is an advantage that Vietnam should make full use of.
The RoK now imports 8.5 billion USD worth of veggie and fruits each year, whileVietnamese exports to this East Asian country are only valued at more than 300million USD. As for Japanese market, which purchases 3.4 billion USD worth offresh fruits and 2.5 billion USD of vegetable each year, Vietnamese shipmentonly account for over 1 percent.
Hung said that strong import growth in the US and the EU is seen as a good signfor Vietnamese firms to boost shipments to the markets.
However, small-scale production and processing are posing great challenges forVietnamese fruit and vegetable sector.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh said thatlocalities that hold strengths in fruit and vegetable cultivation should expandplanting areas with intensive application of high technologies.
Further efforts should be made to improve food safety and hygiene to ensurethat more products receive safe and organic certificates, he said, adding thatcomplete production chains from growing to distribution must be set up toincrease value of the products and enhance overseas shipments.
In addition, localities should work out suitable policies to attract investmentinto the sector, and prioritise brand development and registration ofgeographical indication, he added.-VNA
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