A tra fish processing factory (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – More Vietnamese businesses may soon be allowed to exportaquatic products to Russia this year after a Russian working group made afact-finding tour of some Vietnamese exporters, said Trade Counsellor ofVietnam in Russia Duong Hoang Minh.
Minh said Vietnam’s trade office in Russia hadearlier held a working session with local agencies.
The move was made after Vietnam was given a “yellowcard” warning by the European Commission in September 2017 for failing toprogress in fighting illegal fishing, which could lead to a drop in aquaticexports to the EU and other markets.
Thecounsellor said exports to Russia have encountered difficulties recently sincethis country and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), of which it is a member,limited aquatic product imports and only allowed 21 Vietnamese companies to shipproducts to Russia.
However,there are more than 500 Vietnamese businesses eligible to export to the EU andother demanding markets at present. Therefore, the trade office of Vietnam has workedwith the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to persuade Russianagencies to lift barriers to Vietnamese aquatic products.
Italso invited relevant agencies of Russia and the EAEU to make fact-findingtours to Vietnam in an effort to have more companies be allowed ship aquaticproducts to these markets, Minh added.
In2017, Vietnam exported 2.2 billion USD worth of goods to Russia, up 35 percentyear on year. Commodities with high export growth included vegetables, fruits,cashew nuts, textiles-garments, wood products, machinery and spare parts.
Thecounsellor said the Vietnamese trade office in Russia will now focus on helpingbusinesses boost shipments and capitalise on the Vietnam-EAEU Free TradeAgreement.
Itwill also continue working to understand regulations and commitments in theWorld Trade Organisation and free trade agreements, as well as possible tradebarriers.-VNA
VNA
