December 2, 2010

Vietnamese firms unite for safe shrimp production

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and the My Thanh Shrimp Association (MTSA) will boost cooperation in safe shrimp production and consumption, local news said Tuesday (Nov 30).

The two sides signed an agreement on the issue in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang on November 30. The agreement will be valid in four years.

Under the agreement, VASEP members will buy almost all safe shrimp produced by the MTSA. These two associations will also share information and experiences on shrimp breeding and processing, as well as cooperate in managing the shrimp quality.

The move is essential in the context that Vietnam's major shrimp importers like Japan, EU and the US will tighten inspection on shrimp quality, said Chairman of the VASEP Tran Thien Hai.

MTSA now has 22,500 hectares of shrimp, providing around 10,000 tonnes of safe shrimp for local factories annually.

Vietnam is expected to earn US$2 billion from shrimp exports in 2010, up 20% from a year earlier, said the VASEP.