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| The first Vietnamese organic coffee beans are exported to Japan. (Photo: baogialai.com.vn) |
Vinh Hiep Company Limited in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on March 19 officially exported around 40 tonnes of the product to Japan, a demanding market.
Thai Nhu Hiep, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Coffee – Cocoa Association (VICOFA) and Director of the Vinh Hiep Company Limited, said that despite their high potential, organic coffee beans in Vietnam account for only around 2% in the world’s output, since many Vietnamese farmers are used to traditional farming methods and use chemical fertilisers.
The company has been working with farmers to enhance the value of coffee crops, and in 2016 it invested to transform 42ha of traditional coffee farms into organic coffee farms that follow US Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards.
The company spent the last two years negotiating with Japanese businesses.
The first shipment was officially exported to Japan at price 35% higher than that of other coffee bean products.
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| At the ceremony (Photo: nld.com.vn) |
The successful export of the beans will create opportunities to grow the company’s organic coffee product in Japan in the future.
It intends to extend to other markets in Asian countries and the US following its success in Japan.
Ten outstanding young figures in 2023 announced
Winners of the Vietnam Outstanding Young Faces Award 2023 have been announced recently by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
They are Dinh Cao Don (study category), Doctor of Science Ha Thi Thanh Huong and Doctor of Science and Medicine Ngo Quoc Duy (scientific research - innovation), Dang Duong Minh Hoang (labour and production), Nguyen Xuan Luc (business - startup), Captain Vu Van Cuong (defence), Captain Le The Van (security and order), marksman Pham Quang Huy (sport); Dang Cat Tien (social activities), and rapper Nguyen Duc Cuong, widely known as Den Vau (culture and arts).
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| Ten outstanding young figures in 2023 (Photo: cand.com.vn) |
The committee also selected nine Vietnamese potential young figures in 2023 in the nine above-mentioned fields.
The awarding ceremony is scheduled to be held in Hanoi on March 23.
Fruit and vegetable exports gross nearly US$1.25 billion in Q1
Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exports in the first quarter of the year soared by 27% to nearly US$1.25 billion against the same period from last year, Radio the Voice of Vietnam quoted the data by the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association.
This marks the first time that Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exports have exceeded US$1 billion in the reviewed period, with major consumer markets being China, the Republic of Korea, the United States, Thailand, and Japan.
Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, attributed the recent robust export growth to the overseas sales of durian fruit.
Most notably, Thailand increased its purchases of Vietnamese durians, turning it into the fourth importer of Vietnamese fruit and vegetables.
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| Fruit and vegetable exports gross nearly US$1.25 billion in Q1 (Photo: VOV) |
As of the end of February, among the top 10 Vietnamese fruit and vegetable export markets, exports to Thailand grew by 125.9% to reach US$28.6 million on-year.
Nguyen pointed out that with tourism strengths, Thailand is capable of attracting a large number of Chinese tourists, many of whom love to eat durians.
However, the Thai durian season lasts for only four months per year, while Vietnamese durian boasts a competitive edge thanks to its all-year around harvest. Therefore, Thailand tends to import the fruit in order to serve tourists.
Along with durians, major Vietnamese fruits and vegetable exports include dragon fruit, bananas, and mangoes.
Meanwhile, fruit and vegetable imports in the first quarter are estimated to be at nearly US$500 million, up more than 19% against the same period from last year.
Diverse activities to be held at Amazing Binh Dinh Fest Week 2024
A wide range of cultural, sporting, culinary, and art activities will take place at the Amazing Binh Dinh Fest 2024 Week which will run from March 22 to March 31 in the south central province of Binh Dinh, Radio the Voice of Vietnam quoted the information of the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province.
Specifically, a low-attitude firework display will be held during the opening and closing ceremonies at Thi Nai Bay. The highlight of the event will be the impressive performance of about 500 drones during the closing night.
Furthermore, two international sporting competitions are expected to capture great attention from domestic and foreign tourists, including the international professional motorboat racing tournament (F1H2O UIM World Championship) which will be held from March 29 to March 31 and the world's leading professional water motorbike racing tournament (UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship) scheduled for March 22 to March 24.
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| Diverse activities to be held at Amazing Binh Dinh Fest Week 2024 (Photo: VOV) |
In particular, Binh Dinh martial art demonstration, a street carnival, and an international music event will be held at the opening night amid the presence of several famous international stars.
Other sideline activities include an investment promotion conference in Binh Dinh province and a gala meeting which will be held with investors.
Meanwhile, sporting activities including Flyboard, Skyrider, and Silver Surf will take place during the event, providing audiences with high-class artistic performances.
The week is anticipated to elevate the image of Binh Dinh tourism and attract greater foreign investment into the locality, thereby further contributing to the local socio-economic development./.