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Illustrative image (Photo: vneconomy.vn) |
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the country’s area of organic cultivation surpasses 174,000 hectares, making it rank ninth out of 10 Asian countries with the largest area of organic agricultural land.
The country now has over 17,000 producers, 555 processors and 60 exporters involved in organic agriculture.
It set targets of organic production accounting for 2.5-3% of the total agricultural land area, and the product value per hectare being 1.5-1.8 times higher than that of non-organic production.
In the coming time, the ministry continues to work with localities to build concentrated organic agricultural production regions, promote origin traceability, and digitalisation of organic products.
Vietnam-Canada Business Association debuts
The Vietnam-Canada Business Association (VCB Association) made its debut in Ottawa on October 1, meeting the Vietnamese and Canadian business communities’ demand to meet, connect with and support each other during trade and investment activities, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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At the launching ceremony of the VCB Association (Photo: VNA) |
Addressing the launching ceremony, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Trong Thua expressed his belief that the association will make positive contributions to the economic and trade ties between the two countries.
He pledged to support the association in expanding its coverage in Vietnam and conducting practical activities.
The association is established at a time when the two countries are celebrating their five-year bilateral comprehensive partnership and heading to the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2023.
Last year, despite negative impacts of COVID-19, two-way trade reached about 7.23 billion USD.
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Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Trong Thua addressing the ceremony (Photo: VNA) |
The association aims to gather entrepreneurs in Vietnam and Canadian businesses interested in doing business in Vietnam and other countries in the world to form a large organisation of diversity to support each other for common development.
Speaking at the event, George Chow, Minister of State for Trade of the Government of British Columbia province highly valued the economic and trade partnership between Vietnam and Canada in general and British Columbia in particular. He said he hopes the association will support the post-pandemic economic recovery in both countries.
Chak Au, a representative of Richmond city underlined the significance of the association as well as contributions of the Vietnamese Canadian community in the city, showing his belief that the association will help connect businesses of the two countries.
Dan On, Chairman of Dan D Pak company and the first President of the VCB Association called on members of the association to join hands in deepening the relations between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Vietnamese Consul General in Vancouver Nguyen Quang Trung pledged that the Vietnamese Consulate General will continue to support the association’s activities in the future.
Aquatic exports enjoy bright prospects in Swiss market
Switzerland is a potentially key export market for Vietnamese seafood, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, reported VOV News.
With the market share of Vietnamese seafood making up 11.3% of Switzerland’s total import turnover, Vietnam is currently the second largest seafood supplier to Switzerland, behind only Norway, reports the International Trade Center (ITC).
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Photo for illustration. (Source: VOV) |
Most notably, Switzerland's domestic seafood supply only meets approximately 12% of consumption demand, meaning that it has to depend mainly on imported seafood. The European nation imports roughly 75,000 tonnes of fish and over 115,000 tonnes of shrimp annually.
Vietnamese seafood exports to this market mainly consist of frozen shrimp and pangasius alongside frozen tuna, frozen clams, and frozen eel. Of these items, frozen shrimp and pangasius account for 80.8% and 17.4% of Switzerland’s total seafood export value, respectively.
Experts have advised local businesses to improve product quality in an attempt to promote seafood exports to the Swiss market, particularly as Switzerland has set forth strict requirements on imports to ensure health, food safety, and high hygiene standards.
All food sold in Switzerland is required to fully comply with European and Swiss food labeling regulations.
Most notably, Swiss consumers remain keen on eco-labels and are willing to pay extra if these products meet health and environmental requirements. They also require aquaculture products to meet the standards of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).
Swiss companies and retailers have recently moved to increase the import and distribution of ASC certified aquaculture products.
Int’l cruise ship brings tourists to HCM City after three years of suspension
Saigon Port Joint Stock Company, in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, welcomed the Le Laperouse cruise ship from France on October 2, bringing a group of roughly 100 international tourists to the city, reported VOV News.
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Le Truong Hien Hoa, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Tourism, welcomes foreign tourists from the Le Laperouse cruise ship (Photo: tienphong.vn) |
This marks the first group of foreign tourists to visit Ho Chi Minh City by cruise liner after nearly three years of activities put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During their three-day stay, the foreign travelers are expected to visit several popular destinations around the southern city, including Nha Rong Wharf, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the municipal Post Office, as well as sampling delicacies on the Saigon river at night.
‘It is my first to Vietnam, and I am hugely impressed by natural Vietnamese landscapes, along with the friendliness and hospitability of local residents,’ said Captain Ludovic Provost.
After departing HCM City, the cruise ship is scheduled to visit several other famous tourist destinations around the country, such as Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, Da Nang, Hue, Quang Binh, and Ha Long.
According to Le Truong Hien Hoa, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Tourism, the local tourism industry is anticipated to welcome larger groups of tourists arriving by cruise liners from now until the end of the year.
HCM City has already identified cruise passengers as one of the important and potential sources of tourists, and the return of the first cruise ship is a positive sign for the local tourism industry moving forward, said Hoa.
He revealed that the local tourism industry has launched a number of unique tourism products to help tourists explore the local distinctive culture and cuisine of the country, as well as welcoming a larger influx of tourists from high-end cruise liners in the time ahead.
Phan Xuan Anh, a representative of Tan Hong travel firm, said the Le Laperouse is expected to return to Vietnam in the future, bringing more groups of tourists to the city.
Vietnam is anticipated to welcome more cruise liners from the United States and other foreign countries in early 2023, said Anh./.