Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentHa Cong Tuan unveiled the target in an interview with the Lao Dong (Labour)newspaper on the growth of the forestry sector over the next five years.
Export value is set to reach 20 billion USD in 2025. Duringthe five-year period, he said, the sector will work to sustain the forestcoverage rate at 42 percent, expand distribution markets, develop long-termtrade partnerships, and promptly address trade issues for mutual benefits inline with international commitments.
The minister also touched on a number of positive outcomes made by the sector last year despite COVID-19.
Vietnam exported forest products worth over 13.22billion USD, up 16.9 percent against the previous year, and 5.7 percent higher than the annual target.
The country now ranks fifth globally, second in Asia, andfirst in Southeast Asia in terms of forestry exports, with woodwork productsavailable in over 120 countries and territories worldwide.
The US, Japan, China, the EU, and the Republic ofKorea are the top five importers for the sector, with combined import valueexceeding 11 billion USD or about 90 percent of Vietnam’s total forestry exportturnover.
The country has more than 5,500 companies operating inwood and forest product processing, which generate millions of jobs./.
VNA
