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) On the afternoon of August 19, 2026, as part of the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program continued with the seminar “Vietnam Seafood Outlook 2026–2027: A Strategic Sourcing Destination,” followed by 1-to-1 B2B meetings between international buyers and Vietnamese seafood businesses.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first six months of 2026 indicate that Vietnam’s tilapia industry is entering a new phase of development, with strong export growth but also greater demands for production scale, quality and international competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
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