(vasep.com.vn) 23 seafood enterprises of Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Directorate of Fisheries (D-Fish) and Vietnam Pangasius Association are attending the 22nd edition of Seafood Expo Global, which opened in Brussels on May 6th 2014.
The exposition, one of the largest seafood trade fairs, attracts over 25,600 buyers and suppliers and nearly 1,700 exhibiting companies from 76 countries and territories in the world.
Vietnam Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg Pham Sanh Chau ceremoniously opened the Vietnam pavilion at the expo.
Vietnam pavilion with decorative arrangement, covering an area of nearly 260 square meters, attracts a lot of visitors. Three Vietnamese leading pangasius exporters (Vinh Hoan Corp, Hung Vuong Corp and Navico) are introducing a wide range of pangasius products and dishes which are highly appreciated by international visitors.
On the same day, in the framework of the expo, VASEP and D-Fish co-organized a conference titled "Vietnam Pangasius: Toward sustainability".
At present, pangasius farming in Vietnam has been undertaken in strict compliance with international rules on food safety and hygiene and environmental protection.
Pangasius is a main product, accounting for more than 25 percent of the total export turnover of Vietnam's seafood. It is also a native fish species, occupying more than 95 percent of total export value of pangasius in the world, reaching US$1.8 billion.
In the past two years, Vietnam has remained the quality of pangasius by developing sustainably and applying Vietnam Good Agricultural Practice (VietGap) standard in fish aquaculture. Many pangasius farms have received global certifications that meet requirements on food safety and hygiene from the U.S., Europe and Japan. Vietnam pangasius are consumed widely in Europe and one of top ten favorite seafood products in the U.S.
EU is one of the three key importers of Vietnam seafood products, particularly tuna, accounting for a total 20-25 percent of Vietnam exports, Nguyen Huu Dung, VASEP Vice Chairman said. Pangasius is also preferred by European consumers. To add more value for pangasius products exported to EU, Vietnam exporters will keep developing their trademarks and improving product quality.
With the support from EU, Vietnam has built a program to establish a sustainable supply chain of pangasius for 2013-2017, aiming to boost production in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner, strengthen exports as well as supply safe products to consumers. At the Expo, Vietnam enterprises are carrying out many trade promotion activities to popularize Vietnam's seafood products.
The Seafood Expo Global provides an opportune occasion for producers to introduce their products, seek cooperative opportunities and expand export markets. In addition, it helps seafood exporters and importers meet trade partners, assess market trends and develop new aquatic products.