Market expansion key to boosting farm produce sales

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The event is to realize the Prime Minister’s instructions on expanding American markets and is expected to help local rice exporters access major markets and ease their reliance on traditional ones. 

The participating enterprises must have export capacity, prestige and good infrastructure in service of rice production and business. Priorities will be given to those that want to seek new partners in North America. 

Besides, many trade promotion programmes have been launched in the Philippines, Singapore, the Ivory Coast, Hong Kong and South Africa to boost Vietnamese rice exports to these markets.

Vietrade and the Viet Nam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vinafruit) will participate in the Asia Fruit Logistica Hong Kong 2019 slated for September with the aim of helping Vietnamese agricultural processors conquer the Asian and ASEAN markets. 

General Director of Bao Minh Business Agricultural Products Processing JSC which has joined many trade promotion activities launched by the MoIT Bui Thi HanhHieu said Vietrade has assisted local firms in participating in exhibitions and fairs and meeting big orders. 

In addition, the agency’s representative office in China has also helped Bao Minh connect traders in the market, she said. 

Vietnamese agricultural products have been shipped to 200 countries and territories worldwide, with rice, coffee, pepper and cashew nuts as its key staples. 

Last year, Viet Nam worked with many importing markets, including China and the European Union, to expand markets for local products. As a result, 173 out of 350 requirements of importing markets were relaxed.

As for the Government’s incentives for the sector, Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, director of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development complained about the lack of resources to carry out these policies.

Tran Lam Hong, deputy general director of the Saigon Union of Trading Cooperatives (Saigon Co.op), said that HCMC consumes some 1,500 tons of vegetables and fruits per day. Of this volume, Saigon Co.op supplies some 250 tons.

The market demand is high, so retailers must work directly with farmers and cooperatives. However, retailers are not responsible for the job.

Viet Nam holds strong potential in agriculture, with half of its farm produce being exported. Last year, the country generated more than US$40 billion from farm produce exports and was one of the top 15 farm produce exporters worldwide.

Vegetables and fruits, seafood and furniture are expected to be the largest export earners of the sector in the coming period.

By Vien Nhu