(vasep.com.vn) Norman Grant, Chairman of the Australian Seafood Importers Association, has praised the quality of Vietnam seafood at a seminar held in Sydney.
Vietnam is one of main suppliers of high quality fish for Australia such as lobster, pangasius. The country has done well in enhancing fish quarantine and improving breeding environment so its seafood has high quality and a reasonable price, he said.
However, seafood import from Vietnam into Australia has been limited due to the country’s strict quality control system and Australian consumers have not really welcomed imported seafood products.
Many Australian businesses are ready to provide capital and policy consultancies to Vietnam so it can develop its potential fisheries sector, Grant added. According to Grant, the Australian Seafood Importers Association plans to have more visits to Vietnam to take real images of its fishery to help Australian undertand more about Vietnam seafood products through media. He also urged Vietnam to invest more in the sector to promote the good image of Vietnam fisheries sector.
Vietnam, Australia boost trade in agro-forestry-fisheries
In July 23rd 2012, a seminar on trade and investment opportunities in Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fisheries sector was held in Sydney, Australia.
The event took place during a July 20th-31st working visit by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan to Australia and New Zealand to promote trade and investment in the agro-forestry- fisheries sector.
Australia has a lot of advantages and high technologies in agricultural production, processing and exporting, Mr. Tan emphasized at the seminar. Vietnam and Australia see a great potential for trading and investment cooperation in the agro-forestry-seafood sector, especially when the two sides have been realizing commitments in the framework of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area and are participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement.
Vietnam has carried out a number of policies providing incentives to investment in the agricultural sector, creating a more favorable environment for foreign investors, he affirmed. However, investment flows to agriculture and rural development were limited with only 950 projects with a total registered capital of US$4.8 billion in which projects in agro-forestry-fisheries production were 480 projects with a total capital of US$3.1 billion, accounting for a small proportion compared to registered capital of foreign direct investment (FDI).
Therefore, the Deputy Minister called on Australian partners to further boost trade and investment cooperation with Vietnam in the sector.
Australian businesses showed their interest strengthening cooperation with Vietnam in this field, including organizing training courses and exchanging experts. They suggested that Vietnam should create more favorable conditions for farmers to get better access to new technologies in agriculture and rural development.