The ceremony was hosted by Vietnam Seafood Exporters and Producers Association (VASEP) at Cat Lai seaport in HCMC.
The consignments comprise 20 tons of frozen shrimps worth $290,020 to Canada, 20 tons of dolphinfish worth $216,700 to the US and 22 tons of frozen pangasius fish worth $84,040 to the EU.
Looking back 20 years of the seafood industry development, Mr. Cuong said that the industry’s export turnover was only $780 million in 1997. With enduring efforts by the entire industry, the number reached $8.37 billion in 2017, topping the target set by the Government of $7 billion.
That was a meaningful number as the country experienced a difficult year with 16 storms and four tropical depressions, largely affecting agricultural field with the worst hit being the seafood industry. It also faced market and environment challenges.
According to the ministry, seafood export will meet with lot of challenges this year. Besides natural disasters, there will be difficulties from illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
However, seafood export activities will also see advantages so relevant sides should solve problems and utmost promote the existing advantages to best fulfill the industry’s plans instead of only obtaining the Government’s assigned target of $8.5 billion this year.
On the occasion of the ceremony, VASEP honored 30 businesses leading in shrimp, seafood and pangasius fish export.
