(vasep.com.vn) On 8th August 2012, Dong Thap province’s Department of Commerce and Trade held a meeting with representatives from relevant governmental agencies and local seafood exporters to discuss measures to help the province’s pangasius sector overcome the difficult time.
Pangasius processing for export is considered as the key economic sector of Dong Thap province. However, since early 2012, Dong Thap-based companies met many difficulties in fish production, including lower raw material supply, lack of capital, high bank loans rate and negative impacts from global economic crisis… Therefore, fish production totaled 81,707 MT in the first half of 2012, up only 2.63 percent from the same half of 2011.
Fish farmers play an important role in the production chain and in developing sustainably pangasius industry. It is necessary to create a close and durable link between farmers and processors by balancing the two sides’ profits and interests. In addition, Vietnam government needs to establish a floor price of exported fish to avoid unfair competition among fish packers.
The meeting also discussed measures related to developing corporate brand abroad, enhancing fish quality to strengthen production capacity of local companies, investing more in value-added products.