Vietnam is expected to earn 1 billion US dollars from fruit and vegetable exports this year. The goal was set during a congress of the Vietnamese Fruits and Vegetables Association in Ho Chi Minh City on May 7.

During the event, the association put forth its key orientations and tasks in the coming time, striving for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables to be exported to numerous countries.

To achieve the goal, participants at the congress said that businesses should improve their competitiveness and ensure product quality as well as food hygiene and safety.

From 2007 to 2013, the association made a great contribution to the growth of fruit and vegetable exports.

The exports of fruits and vegetables rose steadily over the past years, reaching 305 million US dollars in 2007, 628 million US dollars in 2011 and 829 million US dollars last year.

However, the association said, much remains to be done to boost fruit and vegetable export, as investment in the sector remains modest, the purchase of fruits and vegetables for export remains difficult and few vegetable and fruit planting units obtain the Good Agricultural Practice standard.-VNA