Vietnam becomes world’s largest supplier of pepper despite COVID-19
(Source: VOV)
Despite enduring an overall decline of 25% in pepper output, the country continues to maintain its dominant position as part of the global pepper industry, accounting for over 60% of global pepper exports.
During the 11-month period, the nation grossed US$867.2 million from exporting 245,975 tonnes of pepper, a drop of 7% in volume, but up 43.8% in turnover against the same period from last year.
The United States remains the largest import market for Vietnamese peppers, reaching 55,602 tonnes throughout the reviewed period, up 9.6%, followed by China, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, France, Russia, Spain, and Canada.
Most notably, Vietnamese pepper exports increased by 4.9% in the European region with Germany taking the lead, followed by the Netherlands, the UK, and France.
In contrast, exports to the Asian region experienced a downward trajectory of 14.5%, while exports to the African region also endured a drop of 28.8%.
According to the forecast made by the International Pepper Community (IPC), the average global pepper price during the first 11 months of the year was estimated to stand at US$4,346 per tonne for black peppers and US$6,490 per tonne for white peppers, a year-on-year increase of 4%, with this trend set to continue increasing slightly ahead in 2022.
The Vietnam Pepper Association advised enterprises and production households to build sustainable organic pepper growing areas as soon as possible, as well as applying Global GAP, Viet GAP, and IPC GAP standards in production and processing.
The association also stressed the necessity of ensuring food hygiene and safety standards, whilst also dealing with issues related to pesticide and chemical residues in pepper in a bid to improve overall product quality, while diversifying pepper products to expand to high end markets such as the US and Europe.
Export-import turnover tops 668 billion USD
Export-import turnover hit 668.5 billion USD this year, 123 billion USD higher than the previous year and posting the highest growth ever, reported VNA.
Photo for illustration (Source: VGP)
The General Department of Vietnam Customs said although various localities applied social distancing measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, export-import turnover of goods handled by customs offices of 19 southern provinces and cities expanded 16 percent against the previous year.
Ho Chi Minh City's customs office in particular handled more than 117 billion USD worth of goods, and Binh Duong office tackled over 47 billion USD.
Of note, the number of imported automobile grew 1.6-fold against that of the previous year, the department said.
State budget collection from imports and exports posted a year-on-year expansion of 19.2 percent./.
CPI of HCM City enjoys year-on-year rise of 2.36%
This year’s average consumer price index (CPI) in Ho Chi Minh City recorded growth of 2.36% from 2020, VOV quoted a statement made on December 30 by the municipal Statistics Office.
Photo for illustration (Source: VOV)
The CPI in December witnessed a of 0.3% on-month, but still surged by 1.24% from the same period from last year.
Throughout the month, the price of food and catering services surged by 0.25% from November, while those relating to housing, electricity, water, fuel, and construction materials declined by 0.38%. In addition, the transport category also suffered a fall of 1.62% in prices, the office noted.
Last year saw prices of some groups of commodities change due to complicated developments relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and the long-term impact of social distancing measures, factors which led to a growing demand for grain food and foodstuff at certain points.
However, local authorities have swiftly carried out programmes aimed at ensuring the continued flow of goods and price stabilisation.
The Statistics Office added that State policies and moves by businesses to assist pandemic-hit consumers, such as cutting down power and water prices, reducing or exempting school fees, and lowering housing rent have also supported the price control over the reviewed period.
Thua Thien-Hue earns ASEAN tourism awards
The central province of Thua Thien-Hue picked up three ASEAN tourism awards 2021, the provincial Department of Tourism announced on December 31.
Tourists wearing Vietnamese traditional costumes visit well-known destinations in Hue
(Photo: To Quoc)
According to VOV, Prizes went to the Silk Path Grand Hue Hotel in the ASEAN MICE Venue Award category, while the ASEAN Green Hotel Award went to Vedana Lagoon Resort & Spa. In addition, the tour “Hue-One destination-Five heritages” of Hue Monuments Conservation Centre was presented with the award for ASEAN Best Sustainable Urban and Rural Tourism Products.
The provincial Department of Tourism stated that the prizes will be presented at the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 2022), which is scheduled to take place in Cambodia in January next year.
The ASEAN Tourism Awards is held annually to highlight localities' contribution to the sustainable development of high-quality tourism destinations, tourism products and services in the region.
Vietnamese, Israeli firms sign cooperation agreement on oral COVID-19 vaccine
Vietnam’s Tan Thanh Holdings and 10 Pharma JSC will be distributors of COVID-19 vaccine Oravax throughout Southeast Asian nations, comprising Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
At the signing ceremony for cooperation agreement
of oral COVID-19 vaccine Oravax. (Photo: VNA)
VNA reported that Oravax Medical of Israel's Oramed Pharmaceuticals and the Vietnamese firms signed the cooperation agreement of oral COVID-19 vaccine Oravax at a ceremony held online on December 29.
Nadav Kidron, Chief Executive of Oramed and Oravax Chairman, said the deal, worth hundreds of millions of US dollars for Oravax, includes pre-order of oral vaccine.
He viewed Tan Thanh Holdings as an ideal partner for his business to bring the oral vaccine to Vietnam and other ASEAN member countries that have a combined population of over 660 million.
Addressing the signing ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Do Minh Hung stressed the significance of the cooperation, saying this is the first time Vietnam and Israel have cooperated in high-tech health care, both in terms of trade and technology transfer.
The cooperation contents match guidelines of the Vietnamese Government and meet domestic demand for vaccine access, he said./.