(vasep.com.vn) On September 9th, 2013, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh had a working meeting with Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr. Bruno Angelet, on establishing an aqua-products distribution and auction centre in Zeebrugge port, Belgium.
Vietnam seafood products are commercialized in over 160 countries and territories and the country is put into top 10 largest seafood exporters in the world, reporting annual growths for many consecutive years. In addition to the U.S. and Japan, EU is one of the three largest importers of Vietnam seafood. EU averagely made up 18.5 percent of Vietnam’s total seafood export revenue. The main seafood products exported to EU are pangasius, shrimp, marine finfish and cephalopod.
The project of establishing Vietnam’s seafood distribution centre in Belgium will be a foundation stone to develop fish trade and boost trade promotion between two countries, offer a great opportunity for Vietnam seafood companies to build their seafood brandname in EU market, said Tran Tuan Anh. The project also helps Vietnam exporters improve their competitiveness.
In order to realize the project, Vietnam exporters need to invest in production technology, ensure food safety and hygiene and sustainable supply. Besides, Belgian and European consumers will enjoy stable supply of seafood with high quality and reasonable price.
Ministry of Industry and Trade in coordination with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and relevant parnters will have to conduct a joint-study with Belgium about the project.
Thanks to the establishment of distribution centre, two countries will enjoymutual benefit. This will be a foundation for Vietnam to open more distribution centres for other commodities in the coming time, boosting sharply bilateral trade relation, Mr. Bruno Angelet affirmed.