Ministry helps firms expand farm produce export markets

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is continuing to work with other ministries, sectors and business associations to help Vietnamese businesses expand farm produce exports.

Processing agricultural products for export

In late July, the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Vietnam Food Association, organized a rice business delegation from 21 Vietnamese companies to the US and Mexico to help Vietnamese rice exporters access big markets and decrease dependence on specific and or traditional markets. The participating enterprises were chosen according to their export capacity, reputation and infrastructure in service of rice production and business. Priority was given to those seeking new partners in North America.

In September, VIETRADE in cooperation with the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association will take Vietnamese businesses to the Asia Fruit Logistica Hong Kong 2019 in order to help them approach Asian and ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) markets.

Bui Thi Hanh Hieu, General Director of the Bao Minh Business Agricultural Products Processing Joint Stock Company, which has joined many trade promotion activities launched by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said VIETRADE has assisted local firms in participating in exhibitions and fairs and meeting big orders.

The agency’s representative office in China has also helped Bao Minh connect traders to that market, she said. Vietnamese agricultural products are shipped to 200 countries and territories worldwide, with rice, coffee, pepper and cashew nuts the key staples.

Each year, the Ministry of Industry and Trade spends about VND33-35 billion (US$1.4-1.5 million) on trade promotion programs for Vietnamese farm produce abroad. Trade promotion programs have been launched in the Philippines, Singapore, the Ivory Coast, Hong Kong and South Africa to boost Vietnamese rice exports to these markets.

In implementing a project to facilitate Vietnamese participation in foreign distribution networks until 2020, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has enabled Vietnamese farm produce firms to sell domestically and export their products through foreign companies’ distribution systems in Vietnam. It has also connected overseas Vietnamese enterprises in Thailand, France, Germany and Australia with domestic businesses, and mobilized overseas Vietnamese to help Vietnamese enterprises access export markets.

Experts suggest that due to fierce competition, the agriculture sector pay more attention to product quality and competitiveness to gain a firm foothold in the global market.