(vasep.com.vn) On 21st December 2012, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam jointly held a conference to wrap up the second phase of Fisheries Sector Program Support (FSPSII) in Hanoi.
Denmark started supporting Vietnam since 1993 and it was one of the first sponsors of Vietnam. So far, Danish financial assistances to Vietnam reached nearly US$800 million; in which, fisheries sector has been among the most priorities in support programs.
FSPS II was created with an aim to helping poor population operating in fisheries sector in rural areas withdraw profits from the sustainable development of Vietnam fisheries sector. After 8 years of cooperation, FSPS II has supported the fisheries sector in upgrading the nationwide management system, improving management of local relevant agencies’ staffs, and helping more than 40,000 farmers escape from poverty.
During six years after the start of FSPS II, Vietnam’s aquaculture production doubled from 1.69 million MT in 2006 to 3.2 million MT in 2012. Earnings from seafood export also increased by two times and reach US$6.3 billion this year.
Over almost 20 years of cooperation in the fishery, FSPS II with a budget of US$45 million has gained achievements in sustainable development through improving management competence, diversifying aquacultural products, strengthening control of post-harvest quality, and developing new markets.
Speaking at the event, Nguyen Huu Dzung – Vice Chairman of Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said that, thank to the first phase of FSPS, Vietnam fishery got a boom in production.
With FSPS II, the sector has made progresses towards sustainable development and created positive changes in poor farmers and fisheries communities, as well as relevant agencies in localities.
The long-term cooperation between Denmark and Vietnam is considered as a good story that a country with about 5 million people was ready to help a backward country with 90 million people to become the third largest seafood exporting country in the world.
On behalf of Vietnamese fisheries communities, VASEP would like to express the most sincere thanks to Danish government and people for their assistances over the past 20 years.