Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Algiers (VNA) – Vietnam’s riceexports to Africa rose sharply in the first six months of 2020 and are expectedto continue surging in the remainder of the year and in 2021, according toVietnamese Trade Counsellor in Algeria Hoang Duc Nhuan.
Africa is one of the biggest rice importers inthe world. Each year, the region imports about 12-13 million tonnes of rice. In2019, Vietnam shipped rice worth nearly 630 million USD to 35 out of the total55 African countries, including major markets such as Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana,Senegal, Mozambique, Cameroon, Gabon, Tanzania, and Egypt.
Notably in January-June, Vietnam exported 41,150tonnes of rice with turnover of 14.58 million USD, up 28.5 times in volume and19.5 times in value.
The Vietnamese Trade Office in Algeria, which isalso in charge of Mali, Niger, Senegal and Gambia, has been updatingadjustments in their trade policies and rice import regulations to promptlyinform to the Ministry of Industry and Trade as well as introduce businessesopportunities for Vietnamese enterprises.
Besides rice, Vietnam could boost exports ofother farm produce such as coffee, pepper, cashew nut, fruit and vegetable,confectionery, cereal and aquatic products, as well as industrial products suchas garment-textile, footwear, computers, electronic products and spare parts.
Vice versa, Vietnam could continue purchasingraw materials with reasonable prices from the markets to serve the processing andproducing sectors at home.
From mid-July to early August 2020, Mali, Nigerand Senegal have re-opened some air and land routes after controlling theCOVID-19 pandemic. This would help resume trade and investment exchanges withother countries, including Vietnam./.
VNA
