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| Durians are exported to China via official channels |
Most notably, the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long on April 19 shipped the first batch of sweet potatoes weighing a total of 28 tonnes to China via official channels.
This comes after on March 17 when Ngoc Minh LS One Member Limited Liability Company in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho officially exported the first batch of 18.5 tonnes of durian to China.
In January, Banana Brothers Farm Joint Stock Company based in the central highlands province of Dak Lak exported 10 containers of banana worth over VND5 billion to the Chinese market.
Nguyen Quoc Toan, director of the MARD's Department of Agricultural Product Processing and Market Development, recommended that local enterprises take full advantage of China’s reopening in order to give fresh impetus to the fruit and vegetable sector moving forward.
The local sector has therefore been advised to develop in a modern and sustainable manner by strengthening linkages from production to consumption markets as a means of improving the efficiency and raising the value of Vietnamese fruit and vegetables in the international market.
Experts duly urged localities and management agencies to devise concrete strategies and build brands in parallel with developing specialised production areas to promote the export of farm produce to China.
Moreover, local firms are required to regularly update and comply with regulations on quality standards, quarantine, packaging, and traceability set forth by Chinese importers.
With positive signals recorded during the first months of the year and improved product quality, the local industry is anticipated to secure a firm foothold in demanding markets.
Vietnam wins gold at Suzuki Aerobic World Cup 2023 in Japan
Five Vietnamese athletes have successfully defended their world championship title they secured a year ago when they clinched a total victory at the ongoing Suzuki Aerobic World Cup 2023 in Tokyo, Japan, reported the Voice of Vietnam.
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| Five Vietnamese gymnasts win gold in the Group competition at the Suzuki Aerobics World Cup 2023 in Japan. |
The Vietnamese team comprising Le Hoang Phong, Nguyen Che Thanh, Nguyen Viet Anh, Vuong Hoai An and Tran Ngoc Thuy Vi won a gold with 19,844 points, leaving behind the French team (19,167 points) and the Japanese team (18,544 points).
In addition, Hoang Gia Bao, Le Hoang Phong, and Nguyen Che Thanh brought home a silver in the Trio category, while Hoang Phong anf Thuy Vi also bagged a silver in the men's and women's doubles competition.
In the individual competitions, two bronze medals went to Phan Thi Uyen Nhi in the women’s juniors and Nguyen Che Thanh in the men’s singles.
Vietnamese Aerobic athletes will continue to demonstrate their skills in competitions for those aged 15-17 and aged over 18.
Gymnasts from 17 countries are taking part in competitions at the Suzuki Aerobics World Cup 2023 held in Tokyo from April 20 to 24 by the World Gymnastics Federation (FIG).
Tokyo is the second of three FIG World Cup events in Aerobic Gymnastics in 2023. The series concludes with the World Cup in Bucharest (ROU) in October.
After the Tokyo tournament, the Vietnamese gymnasts will fly home to prepare for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32) in Cambodia.
At SEA Games 31, they won three gold and two silver medals, and set a target of pocketing two to three gold medals in Cambodia this May.
Germany to recruit 160 Vietnamese nurse practitioners
As many as 160 local nurse practitioners are set to be recruited in Germany, giving them the opportunity to both study and work in the Central European country with a monthly salary of between VND27 million and VND33 million, reported the Voice of Vietnam according to the Department of Overseas Labor.
The move will see candidates able to participate in a 12-month German language course scheduled to run from June this year to July, 2024, with learners aiming to achieve a B2 level upon completion of their training in Hanoi. In addition, candidates will also learn specialised German and German customs, culture, and law.
Vietnamese candidates will also be paid a fee for the first exam for the German B1 certificate and have their meals and boarding covered. They will also receive a free medical check-up, visa application fees, and air tickets to Germany.
Upon arrival, Vietnamese candidates will be able to get involved in a three-year training course in order to become a general practitioner and receive a German national certificate.
After successfully completing the course, they will then be considered for a long-term residence permit in the Central European nation in accordance with German law.
During the apprenticeship held at training institutions in Germany, Vietnamese trainees are entitled to earn a minimum salary of between VND27 million and VND33 million.
Global shrimp demand expected to rebound from Q2
The price of black tiger shrimp in the first months of the year dropped sharply, causing farmers to suffer heavy losses due to the lack of export orders, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| Illustrative image. (Photo: VNA) |
Many seafood enterprises said that there have been no new export orders, so shrimp prices are falling sharply. The price of shrimp has decreased by 30-40% compared to the beginning of the year, with the current price at 85,000-210,000 VND (3.7-9 USD), causing farmers to lose from 50-150 million VND (2,155-6,465 USD) per tonne of shrimp sold.
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), last month, shrimp exports only reached 265 million USD, down 33% over the same period last year.
In the first three months of the year, exports reached 600 million USD, down 37%.
Specifically, shrimp exports to the US, EU and China were down more than 40% and to the Republic of Korea and Japan around 20% over the same period last year.
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| Illustrative image. (Photo: moit.gov.vn) |
Japan is Vietnam's largest shrimp export market at 17.6% of total exports. In the first quarter of this year, shrimp exports to this market reached more than 105 million USD, down 29% over the same period a year ago.
In the first quarter of this year, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the US reached more than 104 million USD, down 46% over the same period a year ago. Record inflation, reduced purchasing power, and high inventories from 2022 are all factors that have reduced demand for shrimp imports into the US.
The situation of US shrimp imports from Vietnam depends a lot on current inventory. If the situation is positive, import demand may recover after the second quarter of this year, according to the VASEP.
Meanwhile, shrimp exports to the EU reached 89 million USD in the first quarter, down 44% over the same period a year ago. Shrimp exports to the EU are not expected to recover in 2023 due to the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
VASEP said that the reason for the sudden drop in exports was the sharp drop in international market demand. In EU, purchasing power has been affected by the impact of inflation and uncertainties related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, while the US is in oversupply. According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US shrimp imports in December 2022 hit a 10-year low.
In addition, Vietnam is facing increasing competition from rival suppliers such as Ecuador and India.
Vietnam's shrimp sector still faces many difficulties and challenges in both input and output related to shrimplet quality, disease control, the ratio of farming areas and product that sometimes does not meet GAP standards. The production cost of shrimp in Vietnam is still much higher than that of Ecuador and India.
In order to increase competitiveness and increase exports, enterprises need to optimise costs, focus on developing added value, improve product quality, and actively change product structure to meet the needs of each market segment. In addition, businesses also need support from the government in terms of technology transformation and capital./.