On 28 November, a conference about the influence of 2 years joining WTO on these two products held by Ministry of Commerce and Institute of National Politics – Administration in Ho Chi Minh city with many focusing points.

Fish and shrimp are not the only kinds of aquaculture.
The same as wood processing, Vietnamese aquaculture processing has been reaching the 8th position of 10 best exporting countries in the world in 2007. The value is 4 times higher than in 1997. Although there is a global financial crisis this year, the value of aquaculture exported is still 4 billion USD. Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Minh, vice minister of Ministry of Aquaculture (Ministry of Agriculture and Farm Development), said that because of being active in improving and enlarging the markets, the enterprises are deeply getting into global economy, contributing for great goods processing and Vietnamese aquaculture exporting.

Pangasius and shrimp are the two main Vietnamese exported products that have perfomed impressively, especially when USA, a main consuming market, put on an anti-devaluation tax. Although the current situation of the market nowadays obviously influence Vietnamese aquaculture processing, Vietnam still has the opportunity to improve aquaculture processing when the consumers turn to consume cheap products.

However, Ms. Minh said that in order to improve aquaculture processing and avoid the competition of other countries, Vietnam need to renew the main products and process, create a new step of development by exporting many other kinds of aquaculture.

However, Mr. Luong Le Phuong, vice minister of Ministry of Agriculture and Farm Development, the weakest point of Pangasius and shrimp processing is that it just focuses on exporting. While the quantity of these products exported is too much, Thailand has chance to compete with Vietnamese enterprises in domestic markets. Wood processing is the same. Vietnam has been supplying wood for 120 countries all over the world while 80% wooden products in Vietnam are made by foreign companies.

Source: SGGP