Vietnam is targeting 2.4 billion USD from tra fish exports in this year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

 

Tran Dinh Luan, deputy head of the Aquaculture General Department under the ministry, said the goal is totally within reach as all of Vietnam’s processing plants have reached the standard set by tough markets like the US, Japan and the EU. However, the official said, the focus will be on the deep processing and the further added value.

 

Experts also echoed Luan’s view, arguing that the US-China trade war will have positive effects on a number of exports. As a result, the export of tra fish will enjoy more chances thanks to the demand increase in China. Besides, when the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement is signed and brought into effect, the tax on this product will be reduced to zero percent in short periods of time.

 

However, they also warned of the hurdles for the export of tra fish, including the programmes in Europe and America on the import control.

 

Regarding the improvement of the quality of the tra fish for export, the General Department are joining hands with enterprises in the building of the trademark for the products and the processing to have more added value. To do this, the industry needs to increase investment, apply science and technology to the processing, as well as make the best use of the materials available.

 

Tra fish exports brought back a record of 2.26 billion USD last year, an increase of 26.4 percent compared to a year earlier.-VNA