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| Processing fresh coconuts for export at Mekong Fruit Co., Ltd in Chau Thanh district, Ben Tre province. (Photo: VNA) |
Vietnam holds the 6th position in the global coconut market in terms of cultivation area and output. With roughly 200,000ha of plantations, the country produces 2 million tonnes of the nuts annually.
This production capacity has enabled Vietnam to export coconuts to 15 foreign markets, with 30,000 tonnes.
To maximise the strength of coconuts as a naturally clean fruit with a long shelf life, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has negotiated a protocol with China for fresh coconut exports since 2016, according to Deputy Director of the Plant Protection Department Nguyen Quang Hieu.
Vietnamese coconuts have been exported to Western markets since 2017, with Vina T&T pioneering the entry into the US market, previously dominated by Thai ones.
General Director Vina T&T Nguyen Dinh Tung said Vietnamese coconuts, known for sweetness, caught the attention of the US market, favoured by consumers in Europe, Canada, and the Republic of Korea (RoK), and most recently China which has granted an export code for the product.
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| Vietnamese fresh coconuts have many opportunities for export growth in the Chinese market. (Photo: nhandan.vn) |
Vina T&T has signed contracts with two Chinese companies to ship the first batches to this market.
With a population of over 1.4 billion and domestic supply meeting only about 10% of the demand, China represents a great potential market.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Trung said China consumes over 4 billion coconuts annually, of which approximately 2.6 billion are fresh ones.
China’s high demand but limited production capacity presents an opportunity for the Vietnamese product.
Statistics from the MARD show that the fresh coconut ranks sixth in export value among fruit items, following durian, dragon fruit, banana, mango, and jackfruit. The fruit’s export earnings in the first 10 months of 2024 is projected to reach over 120 million USD.
With a sharp rise of fresh coconut exports, the fruit sector has more opportunities to create breakthroughs in exports, potentially reaching the milestone of 10 billion USD set by the MARD.
Vietnam take first win at regional futsal championship
Vietnam had a smooth start at the ASEAN Futsal Championship 2024 beating Timor Leste 4-1 in the opening match of Group A on Saturday in Korat, Thailand, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| Nguyen Thinh Phat of Vietnam seen in action during the Vietnam vs Timor Leste match of the ASEAN Futsal Championship 2024 on November 2 in Thailand. Vietnam win 4-1 (Photo: VNA) |
As one of the title favourites, the two-time World Cup participants were considered much stronger than their rivals.
Nhan Gia Hung needed only three minutes to prove Vietnam's strength after consecutive attacks from the first whistle.
Hung took his ball in the box after a smart free kick on the left wing and had an easy opportunity with a close-range tap-in to open the scoring.
Timor Leste were on the back foot and goalkeeper Santos Gama did his good job to prevent Vietnamese pivots from scoring in the remainder of the first half.
Timor Leste replied three minutes after the restart as Fernandes broke through Vietnam's defence and passed the ball to Cesario Silvano Barreto in the box who netted with ease as former world top 10 goalkeeper Ho Van Y stood still and watched the ball go past him.
A minute later, Guterres nearly made it 2-1 for Timor Leste as his straight shot passed Y but he was denied by the left post.
Vietnam finally found their footing and scored three more goals in a rampaging second period.
Nguyen Manh Dung restored Vietnam’s advantage in the 25th minute, before Nguyen Thinh Phat scored a double in the 36th and 40th minutes for the win.
Hosts Thailand beat Brunei 13-0 to top the group's table.
In the next fixture on November 3, Vietnam will play Malaysia which rested in the first round and Timor Leste will face Brunei.
The regional championship feature nine teams, playing in a one-leg round robin group stage. The two top teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, with the final scheduled for November 10.
Vietnamese eloquence contest attracts students of Japan
A Vietnamese eloquence contest was held at Kanda University of International Studies (KUIS) in Japan's Chiba prefecture on November 2, drawing 21 students from eight universities, colleges, and high schools that teach the Vietnamese language across Japan, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| A contestant at the 18th Vietnamese eloquence contest held at Kanda University of International Studies (Photo: VNA) |
Opening the 18th edition of the contest, Iwai Misaki, head of the KUIS Department of Asian Languages, said that the competition creates a playground for students to demonstrate their presentation and communication skills in Vietnamese, thereby enhancing their practical language skills for future studies and careers.
She expressed her hope that many participants from this contest will become bridges of friendship between the two countries in the future.
Vietnamese has been taught in KUIS since April 2001.
Vu Thi Lien Huong, First Secretary from the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, hailed the role of Japanese universities, colleges, high schools teaching Vietnamese in connecting students to share their learning experience and promoting the Vietnamese culture in Japan.
Kasuga Atsushi, a teacher from the KUIS Department of Asian Languages, said he found the language skills of contestants have been much better, adding the contest is a good chance for contestants to exchange and improve their Vietnamese skills.
Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency, Ando Fuma, a fourth-year student at Osaka University who won the special award at this year's contest, said that he plans to return to Vietnam after graduating to work as a translator for an information technology company.
Within the contest's framework, Vietnamese students studying Japanese in KUIS had a chance to meet and exchange with their Japanese peers through cultural and music programmes.
Nearly 30% of vehicles to be electric by 2030
The Ministry of Transport has set a target that 30% of cars and 22% of motorbikes will be powered by electricity by 2030, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| An electric bus in HCM City. By 2030, the Ministry of Transport wants 623 Compressed Natural Gas on the roads of Hanoi and HCM City. (Photo: VNA) |
This is one of the solutions to achieve the goal of reducing 5.9% of greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector under a plan issued by the ministry recently.
Reviews will be carried out to amend the national technical standards for automobiles with updated regulations for electric vehicles (EVs).
The ministry will develop a circular regulating the classification of road vehicles, signs to identify vehicles using clean, green and environmentally – friendly energies, together with the issuance of standards for roadside rest stops, including regulations on charging stations.
Studies will also be carried out to develop the charging infrastructure system and integrate into the road transport infrastructure planning for 2021-30 period with a vision to 2050.
The ministry will also look at mechanisms for exchanging and offsetting carbon credits for projects which convert from fossil fuel vehicles to EVs.
Under the plan, the ministry also set a target that there will be 623 Compressed Natural Gas buses by 2030, 423 in Ho Chi Minh City and 200 in Hanoi.
In addition, 100% of road vehicles will use biofuel E5 by 2030./.