The 2014 Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2014), the most prestigious of this kind in Vietnam, kicked off in Ho Chi Minh City on August 6, attracting the participation of more than 170 local and international businesses and organisations.

This year, more than 300 booths are installed on an area of 10,000 square metres at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre, showcasing various products from Vietnam as well as the country’s leading partners including Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and European countries.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh highlighted the exhibition as an effective way to promote trade that can help reduce costs for local businesses and offer a chance for partners to learn about the Vietnamese fisheries sector.

Meanwhile, Tran Thien Hai, President of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), stated that, since first held in 1998, the annual Vietfish has affirmed its role in popularising the trademark of Vietnamese seafood in the global market, while introducing domestic customers to high-quality locally-made products.

A number of activities will be held within the framework of the three-day exhibition, including a conference with the participation of specialists from many organisations, including those from the Global Good Agriculture Practice (GlobalGAP), the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), the World Wild Fund (WFF) and the VASEP.-VNA