Photo for illustration (Source: vef.vn)
(CPV)
– The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) organized a conference in early June to discuss solutions to boost agricultural, forest and aquatic product export.
According to the MOIT, in the first five months of this year, the trade surplus of the agricultural sector stood at USD3.56 billion, compared to USD3.73 billion in the same period of last year. In May alone, the export turnover of agricultural, forest and aquatic products reached USD1.829 billion, and achieved USD8,916 billion in the first five months, up 12.7% compared to the same period in 2013.
Although agricultural and aquatic products of Vietnam have been exported to more than 100 countries and territories, China has remained Vietnam’s largest agricultural and aquatic import market for many years. In the current context, this will be a disadvantage if China applies any negative measures to Vietnam’s import and export.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai said that regarding Vietnam’s 5 or 6 strongest agricultural export commodities, most are exported to China, such as processed agricultural products, aquatic products, cashew, rubber, vegetables and rice.
The risk of depending on one market has been well known for some time but our action has not been drastic. China’s illegal placement of the Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig in Vietnam’s waters will probably motivate us to implement stronger measures, added Mr. Hai.
At present, the export of agricultural products to China is still normal, except psychological impact. Vietnam-China economic relations are mutually beneficial so MOIT believes that two-way trade between the two countries will maintain its current momentum. China still needs to import agricultural and aquatic products from Vietnam and does not have overly strict requirements. The Chinese market also demands diversified types in large quantities making it relatively favourable for export of Vietnam’s goods, particularly for advantageous products, such as cassava, rubber, aquatic products, vegetables, rice and pepper.
However, in order to reduce dependence on China and increase agricultural and aquatic product exports in the coming time, aside from further boosting trade with traditional partners such as ASEAN countries, the EU, Japan and the US, Vietnam should pursue new markets such as Africa and the Middle East.
For example, China may be the potential market but it is not the largest market for Vietnam’s aquatic products, which are currently the US, the EU, South Korea and Japan. Many of the main fruit exports of Vietnam will have more opportunity in markets like the US, Japan, South Korea, Chile and New Zealand if a strategy is adopted to occupy these markets.
Moreover, stimulating domestic consumption needs to be accelerated, especially in the current period. Various goods such as rice, sugar, vegetables and aquatic products could be boosted for domestic consumption, which fits well with the program “Vietnamese people prioritize using made-in-Vietnam goods”./.
Đăng ký: VietNam News