Tiếng ViệtDeputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Phung Duc Tien, believes that in the coming time, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) will continue to achieve great success and experience even stronger development. With many leading industry enterprises as its members, VASEP will play a crucial role in the development of the seafood industry and contribute significantly to the nation’s overall progress and growth
On June 12, 2023, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) held its 2023 General Assembly and commemorated its 25th anniversary.
The 2023 General Assembly was an excellent opportunity for the association’s members to share information, exchange experiences, identify challenges, and develop suitable strategies to pioneer and enhance competitiveness in the new conditions. It aimed to be more proactive in business and reaffirm Vietnam’s position and development potential in the global seafood market. I hope that through this conference, many initiatives will be put forward, and valuable insights will be shared.
According to information from VASEP, at the end of 2022, the association and businesses acknowledged that the seafood industry would face significant challenges in 2023. The global inflationary situation was becoming increasingly severe, consumer demand was noticeably declining, and there was still a substantial amount of inventory. As a result, seafood exports were unlikely to experience short-term growth.
In the first five months of 2023, Vietnam’s seafood exports reached just over $3.2 billion, continuing a sharp decline of nearly 30% compared to the same period in 2022. The decrease ranged from 10% to 50% in all major export markets, with the most significant decline observed in the US market, dropping by over 50% compared to the same period. The EU market saw a decline of nearly 32%, while China experienced a decrease of over 25%. Key seafood exports from Vietnam all witnessed a significant drop, with shrimp decreasing by nearly 36%, tra fish by almost 40%, and tuna by over 30%.
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has lasted for over a year, combined with climate crises in various regions worldwide, high inflation, and tightening monetary policies, will continue to impact the global economy and pose risks to the global supply chain and fluctuations in food prices.
Many forecasts suggest that seafood demand in various markets may continue to decrease in the third quarter of 2023, rather than recovering as previously projected.
Given these realities, the 2023 General Assembly of VASEP’s members was organized to identify priority strategic issues for the association’s future activities. It aimed to facilitate discussions, exchange ideas, and develop effective programs, plans, and measures to address challenges, overcome obstacles, and achieve continued success in the future.
The annual general assembly of VASEP’s members this year was held on the association’s founding day, marking the significant milestone of 25 years of construction and development with the support of all member businesses and active assistance from the government and state management agencies. Although 25 years may not be a very long time, it holds great significance, signifying the maturity of the association and further affirming its position in the hearts of member businesses and international partners.
The achievements of the association are attributed to the unity and support of its members, the sharing and solidarity among seafood businesses that have achieved important milestones for the industry, from reaching a turnover of $1 billion to $11 billion, making Vietnam the world’s third-largest seafood exporter, and aiming for a target of $20 billion in exports.
During the conference, representatives of shrimp, tra fish, and seafood businesses presented papers on the current situation, market prospects, sustainable development solutions for the shrimp and tra fish sectors, and the challenges in addressing the yellow card IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing) issue.
In her opening speech, Honorary Chairman of VASEP, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Minh, stated that the recently launched program “For a Sustainable Shrimp Industry” by the VASEP Shrimp Committee has already had positive impacts on the shrimp raw material market. The Freshwater Fish Committee has also initiated a promotion program for tra fish along with activities to reassess and improve the supply of fingerlings, feed, and the success rate for tra fish farming. The Seafood Committee is contributing financially to hire international consultants to address the yellow card IUU issue. These activities demonstrate that everyone is working together to go further.
Overall, the conference provided an opportunity for members to share information, exchange experiences, and discuss priority strategic issues to overcome challenges and ensure continued success in the future.
Mrs Nguyễn Thị Hồng Minh shared, “Whether we can develop strongly and maintain our position in the global market or not, in addition to the efforts of the business community and the association, the participation of the entire supply and production chain, and the close attention and guidance of the Government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the relevant agencies, will certainly help Vietnam’s seafood industry overcome difficulties, continue to grow and develop in a strong and sustainable manner.”
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Phung Duc Tien, expressed confidence that in the coming time, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) will continue to achieve many successes, experience even stronger development, and have more leading enterprises as its members, making important contributions to the development of the seafood industry and the country as a whole.
At the same time, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien expressed his hope that VASEP would continue to fulfill its role as a bridge between businesses and the government, between businesses and the fishing community, and between businesses and international markets. This includes promoting Vietnamese seafood in international markets and contributing to the increasingly strong and sustainable development of the industry, maintaining Vietnam’s position as the world’s third-largest seafood supplier. From now until the end of 2023, the following focuses are needed:
- Regularly assess market developments, propose solutions, and timely provide information and communication to ensure that people have appropriate production plans.
- Enhance cooperation and solidarity among businesses in accessing, maintaining, and expanding diverse markets, while adhering to Vietnam’s regulations and import markets, and resolutely eliminating any signs of disunity, unhealthy competition, law violations, and unsustainable development.
Furthermore, it is important to promptly inform the relevant ministries and agencies about any obstacles encountered during the export process in order to find timely solutions. It is necessary to proactively propose amendments and improvements to policies that create optimal conditions for production and export activities while ensuring effective management requirements and sustainable growth. Encouraging members to adopt new technologies to reduce production costs, promoting production linkages, and replicating efficient production models are also crucial. It is essential to maintain and develop export markets while addressing technical barriers.
Contact For The Best-Priced Seafood Exports
- Address: Lot III-22, 19/5A St., Tan Binh Industrial Park, Tay Thanh Ward, Tan Phu Dist., HCMC
- Tel: +84 28 3816 5488
- Hotline: +84 94 868 0404
- Email: salesfreshfood@sacofoods.vn
