Cục thủy sản

Attending the ceremony were Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien, Chairman of Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Committee Luu Xuan Vinh, Madam Elsbeth Akkerman, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Viet Nam and Mr. Carsten Schittek, representative of the EU Delegation in Viet Nam.

In the context of EVFTA, the export tax on some Vietnamese shrimp products to the EU such as frozen raw shrimp will decrease from 12 - 20% to 0%. This is a great opportunity for Vietnam's shrimp industry to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic. The first establishment exporting shrimp products to the EU was a shrimp processing factory of Thong Thuan Co. Ltd. located in Ninh Thuan province. A batch of white shrimp processed in compliance with ASC standards, which is the most stringent international standard applicable to aquaculture based on four main foundations of environment, society, animal security and food safety.  The first consignment of shrimp was exported to Germany, Netherlands and the UK with a total weight of 60 tons. Then, the establishment will export about 700 tons of shrimp to the EU per month.

After the EVFTA came into effect, Vietnam's shrimp orders in August increased by 10%, while shrimp exports increased by 20%. This is a positive sign which showed that shrimp industry is having a chance of making a spectacular growth thanks to EVFTA. The optimistic forecast shows that Viet Nam could reach export value of USD 4 billion this year. The EU market has been widely known as a high standard market. This is because the EU market cares about the sustainable development. Products made in Viet Nam need to ensure the sustainability in terms of environment and labor. Secondly, it is issues of food hygiene and safety (SPS). Therefore, Vietnamese goods, especially seafood products, exported to the EU must meet biological and chemical standards... It is not easy to satisfy these requirements. However, if Viet Nam’s fisheries have met the such requirements, its seafood products will not only benefit in the EU market but also in other markets.

At the launching ceremony, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien emphasized that the EVFTA brought into effect has made and good opportunity for fisheries sector to deeply integrate into the global market of high value and quality. More importantly, the trading relations between the EU and Viet Nam are mutually complementary, but not competitive. The EU is famous for high-tech products that Viet Nam needs. Meanwhile, Viet Nam has an advantage in tropical agricultural products that the EU market demands. Through relation of trade and investment with the EU, Viet Nam is expected to acquire modern technology and advanced governance, gradually standardize and upgrade production processes to link with the global value chain. He added that in particular fisheries sector, elimination of tariffs within EVFTA is expected to create a great opportunity for seafood exports. The EU will remove tariffs of 86.5% of Vietnam's fisheries export value in the next 3 years, 90.3% within 5 years and 100% within the next 7 years. Shrimp is a major product of Vietnam exported to Europe. The entry into force of the EVFTA has brought prospects for export of shrimp products to this market in late 2020 and the following years. However, besides the advantages of EVFTA, Mr. Tien also asked Viet Nam’s establishments exporting shrimp products to continue to improve their technology and their capability for management in order to meet requirements of EU market, including application of code of culture areas, ASC standards, development of deep-processed, instant-packed products for household consumption.

Mr. Carsten Schittek, Head of the Cooperation & Development Section under the EU Delegation in Vietnam, pointed out that an export of brackish water shrimp to the EU market has affirmed a success of shrimp farming, processing and export establishments of Vietnam. It can be said that the fisheries sector in general and Viet Nam's shrimp industry in particular has been highly competitive. When the EVFTA comes into effect, with the tariff rate of from 12% down to 0%, Viet Nam's shrimp industry will succeed in increasing its market share in the EU market.

          Nam Anh (theo mard.gov.vn)