Vietnam is set to begin exporting rambutans to New Zealand after years of trade negotiations between the two countries. (Photo: gocom.vn)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is set to beginexporting rambutans to New Zealand after years of trade negotiations betweenthe two countries.
The move comes after a meeting between DeputyPrime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue and senior officials from the government of NewZealand in July of last year during Hue’s official working visit to thecountry.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture andRural Development’s plant protection department, Vietnam currently grows threevarieties of rambutan. These are java, Thai and nhan rambutans. Nhan rambutansare smaller than other varieties and are considered to have the best tasteamong rambutan varieties.
The fruit is mainly grown in the southernprovinces, with a total area of more than 50,000 ha dedicated to rambutangrowing, supplying roughly 300,000 tonnes of the fruit per year.
A report from the Vietnam Commerce Office in NewZealand showed that the annual exports of rambutans from Vietnam are modest.The country’s turnover from fresh fruit exports have not been stable, and havemuch untapped potential.
New Zealand only allows imports of goods thatpass the country’s risk analysis, their health standards are also among thestrictest in the world. The number of items considered annually for import bythe New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) is relatively limited incomparison to other countries.
Currently, Vietnam exports just two fresh fruititems to New Zealand: mango and dragon fruit. Vietnamese rambutans passed thecountry’s import risk assessment in 2014.
The new "passport" for Vietnameserambutan to New Zealand will contribute to the increased export turnover ofvegetables and fruits from Vietnam in the coming years. In 2017 the country’sturnover from exporting fruits and vegetables reached over 3.5 billion USD, upby 40 percent from previous years. In the first quarter of this year, thecountry’s exports of fruit and vegetables valued 950 million USD, a 35.6percent increase from the same period last year.
Vietnamese rambutan has been exported to the US,Canada, and the EU, as well as the Middle East, Africa, China and neighbouringcountries in Southeast Asia.
According to international regulations onimports of fresh fruit, rambutans must meet strict criteria before beingconsidered by importers. Currently, each country has its own criteria forimported fruit, so businesses must comply with the quarantine standards of theimporting country. – VNA
VNA
