According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment , on the afternoon of August 8, held a bilateral meeting with Minister Chun Jae-Soo, during which the two sides signed the MoU to underscored the friendship between the two nations while marking a new phase in their fisheries partnership.
“Vietnam considers fisheries a key pillar in its sustainable marine economic development strategy,” Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang said. “We look forward to learning from South Korea’s experience, and propose key cooperation priorities including sustainable fisheries development, modern marine aquaculture technology transfer, ocean plastic waste management, human resource training, and seafood trade promotion.”
Mr. Thang emphasized the substantial potential for fisheries investment and trade between the two countries and proposed that South Korea introduce businesses to invest in Vietnam’s marine aquaculture sector. South Korea is currently the largest foreign investor in Vietnam, with more than 9,700 FDI projects, and the country’s third-largest trading partner.
Vietnam expressed interest in adopting environmentally friendly, industrial-scale cage farming technology and invited South Korean businesses to invest through public-private partnership (PPP) models.
He pledged to direct the effective implementation of the MoU and related cooperation programs, and extended an invitation for Minister Chun to visit Vietnam to explore opportunities and discuss strategic directions for elevating the partnership.
Minister Chun welcomed the Vietnamese delegation and praised the country’s abundant marine potential and its role in global seafood trade.
He noted that relations have steadily advanced since the first cooperation MoU was signed in 2002. The latest MoU, he said, is an important milestone that will usher in broader and deeper cooperation in the fisheries sector.
Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam Tran Duc Thang held a bilateral meeting with South Korean Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Chun Jae-soo. (Photo: Thanh Nguyen).
Minister Chun affirmed South Korea’s readiness to transfer technology, including the application of artificial intelligence in fisheries, expand training programs, and transfer modern technical expertise to Vietnam.
Both sides agreed to intensifying cooperation in marine aquaculture, sustainable fisheries development, and the sharing of technology for catch monitoring and traceability to address the EU’s IUU yellow card, and expanding seafood trade and investment for the 2026–2030 period.
Since establishing diplomatic ties more than 30 years ago, Vietnam and South Korea have upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, achieving notable successes in multiple sectors. South Korea is Vietnam’s largest foreign investor, with total registered capital nearing USD 85 billion. In 2024, bilateral trade reached USD 82.1 billion, with seafood accounting for over USD 890 million, more than USD 800 million from Vietnam’s exports.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese tilapia is moving into a higher-value segment as brackish-water farmed fish from the Mekong Delta is now being processed for sashimi and exported regularly to Japan.
(seafoo.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau Province is stepping up efforts to protect aquatic resources and promote transparent and sustainable fisheries, joining the country’s efforts to have the European Commission (EC) remove its “yellow card” warning for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam has strengthened its position in China’s massive seafood market, becoming the largest lobster supplier while maintaining a dominant share of the country’s imported pangasius.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026 was more than just a larger exhibition space. Through B2B meetings, booth discussions, production-chain visits and post-show feedback, businesses and buyers found something more concrete: suitable suppliers, processing capabilities, technology solutions, new markets and a foundation for building long-term trust and partnerships.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States declined significantly in the first seven months of 2026. Cumulative export value reached US$18 million, down 42% from the same period in 2025. In July alone, exports amounted to just US$2 million, plunging 70%, indicating a clear slowdown in import demand from the US market.
(vasep.com.vn) At the seminar “Global Seafood Markets and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities and Directions for the Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Fisheries Sector,” held as part of VIETFISH 2026, Ms. Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy, Fisheries Officer (Markets) and GLOBEFISH Coordinator at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), presented initiatives aimed at promoting youth participation in fisheries and aquaculture.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the United States reached US$189 million, down 8% year-on-year. In July alone, export value reached US$22 million, down 28%. This trend indicates that U.S. demand for pangasius imports has remained relatively cautious this year, as importers tend to maintain moderate inventory levels and limit stockpiling.
(vasep.com.vn) After three days at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam International Fisheries Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 – has successfully concluded, leaving a strong impression in terms of scale, visitor numbers, the quality of business connections, and innovative activities. With more than 14,000 m² of exhibition space, 335 companies, 568 booths, participation from representatives of 17 countries and territories, and nearly 15,000 visitors, VIETFISH 2026 has once again affirmed its role as an important meeting point for Vietnam’s and the global seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Held as part of Vietfish 2026 from August 19–21 at SECC in Ho Chi Minh City, a series of five specialized seminars provided the seafood business community with updates on markets, technology, standards, human resources and cooperation opportunities. With the participation of experts, international organizations, government agencies and businesses from Vietnam and abroad, the seminars created an additional platform for professional exchange alongside the exhibition’s product showcases and business networking activities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 officially opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. With 568 booths representing 335 companies, alongside the presence of senior government officials, local authorities, diplomatic missions and international partners, VIETFISH 2026 kicks off three days of business networking, technology exchange and market engagement under the overarching theme “Innovation and Sustainability.”
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