Domestic and foreign experts and businesses in the fishery sector participated in a seminar in Hanoi on March 21 to seek measures to improve the sector’s development capacity. They focused on challenges experienced in observing trade standards.

The seminar was jointly held by the National Agro-Forestry-Fishery Quality Assurance Department, the UN Industrial Development Organisation and the Japan Trade Promotion Organisation.

Delegates agreed that Vietnam has the ability to provide a stable supply of premium seafood products in line with the Government and businesses’ commitments on food safety and environmental responsibility.

However, the sector has had to overcome domestic difficulties, as well as barriers into the global market.

Over the past year, the fishery sector has become one of Vietnam ’s key economic industries.

In 2012, the country’s seafood could be found in 156 markets, with total export turnover of 6.1 billion USD.

Vietnam is one of three countries with a stable labour force, and has bilateral cooperation agreements with many other countries in this sector.-VNA