The exposition, ongoing from May 6-8, is attracting over 25,600 visitors and nearly 1,700 businesses from 76 nations and territories around the globe, displaying their wares of frozen and fresh seafood products, the latest in packaging equipment along with countless displays of advanced technology in preservation and transportation equipment and other ancillary services.
Three Vietnamese leading seafood businesses (Vinh Hoang, Hung Vuong and Nam Viet) are introducing several highly improved quality tra and basa fish products, produced with technologically advanced production methods to visitors at the event.
Vietnamese ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg Pham Sanh Chau attending the opening of their pavilions which attracted many international friends, spoke highly of the delicious tra and basa fish dishes, which he says are destined to become a favourite in the European market.
The exposition provides an opportune occasion for producers to introduce their products, seek cooperative opportunities, and expand export markets. In addition, it helps seafood exporters and importers meet potential trade partners, assess market trends and get updated on developments and new aquatic products hitting the marketplace.
The same day, VASEP and the Vietnam General Department of Fisheries co-organised a seminar discussing sustainable development of Vietnamese catfish farming.
At present, catfish farming in Vietnam has been undertaken in strict compliance with international rules on food safety and hygiene and environmental protection. Catfish exports now account for over 25% of the country’s total seafood export volume and over 95% of the world’s total catfish exports.
In the past two years, Vietnam has improved the quality of catfish by developing sustainably and applying Vietnam Good Agricultural Practice (VietGap) standards in aquaculture. Many catfish farms have received certifications that they meet requirements of both food safety and hygiene from the US, Europe and Japan. Vietnamese catfish are consumed widely in Europe and one of top ten favourite seafood products in the US.
Nguyen Huu Dung, VASEP Vice Chairman said that, the EU is one of Vietnam’s major seafood export markets, adding that the EU market has accounted for 20-25% of seafood products, especially tuna.
Catfish are also favourite products of European consumers, he said.
To increase added value of exports to the EU, Vietnamese businesses should improve product quality and should pay attention to developing trademarks, he concluded.
With support from the EU, Vietnam has built a programme to establish a sustainable supply chain of tra fish for 2013-2017 under which the catfish industry will strive to boost exports of environmentally friendly and safe products by 2020.