HCM City (VNA) – More than 100 tra and basa catfish producers met at a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on January 21 to discuss measures to improve quality for their exported products.
Chairing the conference, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Luong Le Phuong affirmed that it is unacceptable for businesses to make frauds spoiling the prestige of Viet Nam ’s exported tra and basa catfish, which is one of the country’s staples for exports.
He asked the National Fisheries Quality Assurance and Veterinary Directorate (NAFIQAVED) to tighten its control over processing establishments and give strict punishments to violators.
He also suggested possible provision of blue cards and reduction of checks for businesses known for high quality products.
Ngo Phuoc Hau, Chairman of the Freshwater Fish Committee under the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said tra and basa catfish export has over the recent years made a boom in aquatic product export of Viet Nam .
According to him, tra and basa catfish stands first in export volume and second in turnover after shrimp.
In 2007, Viet Nam exported 386,870 tonnes of processed tra and basa, equal to 1 million tonnes of material, fetching close to 1 billion USD, surging 34.4 percent over 2006.
The major markets for Viet Nam ’s tra and basa catfish include the European Union, representing 48 percent of the total turnover, followed by Russia with 9.2 percent, ASEAN countries with 7.9 percent and the US with 6.9 percent.
Viet Nam expects to process 1.2 million tonnes of tra and basa catfish for export to earn 1.2 million USD in 2008.-Enditem
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