PM: forestry exports to reach US$18-20 bln by 2025

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc attends a meeting on wood processing and forestry exports in Ho Chi Minh City, August 8, 2018 - Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

This is the first large-scale meeting on the wood industry, which aims to review the exploitation and use of wood and propose measures to uphold the nation’s potentials in this field. 

Speaking at the event, the PM said that while the agricultural sector contributes 16% of the GDP, the exports of wood and wooden products make up 21% of the agricultural exports, reaching nearly US$8 billion in 2017. 

The annual growth of the wood industry attained 15% over the recent 18 years, five times higher than the growth of the agricultural sector. 

As many as 4,500 businesses operating in the sector have created 350,000 jobs and the average value of US$23,000 per laborer. 

The Government leader supposed that the wood processing industry and forestry exports must become one of the nation’s production and export sectors and Viet Nam is expected to be listed among the world’s leading and prestigious forestry production and export hubs.

He asked the ministries, agencies, localities and businesses to focus on effectively implementing the Law on Forestry 2017, regarding the forestry sector as one of the special economic and technical sectors in the value chain of forestry products from management, protection and development to forest utilization, processing and trade of forest products.

PM Phuc encouraged investing in planting material forests and renewing science and technology in forest planting, wood processing and forestry exports especially in the context of the fourth industrial revolution, requesting to communicate among people and businesses to exploit timber legally. 

Highlighting the role of associations and the business community, he suggested enterprises respect international laws, use materials legally and do research in international markets carefully to prevent trade conflicts. 

The PM stressed the need to establish a trade mark for Viet Nam’s wood, announcing that after the meeting, a Directive on facilitation to the fast and sustainable development of the wood processing industry and forestry exports will be issued. 

By Thuy Dung