January 23, 2008

Vietnam catfish producers hold conference on quality enhancement

Around 100 tra and basa catfish producers met at a conference in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to discuss strategies to improve the quality for their products.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Luong Le Phuong affirmed during the conference that it is unacceptable for industry players to engage in frauds and spoil the prestige of Vietnam's exported tra and basa catfish.

The minister encouraged the National Fisheries Quality Assurance and Veterinary Directorate (NAFIQAVED) to tighten controls on processing establishments and give strict punishments to violators.

Ngo Phuoc Hau, Chairman of the Freshwater Fish Committee under the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said tra and basa catfish export has greatly contributed to the boom of aquatic exports of Vietnam.

Tra and basa catfish come first in terms of export volume and second to shrimp in terms of turnover.

Last year, Vietnam exported 386,870 tonnes of processed tra and basa, fetching close to US$1 billion, surging 34.4 percent over 2006.

Major importers of tra and basa catfish from Vietnam include the EU accounting for 48 percent of the total turnover, Russia at 9.2 percent, Southeast Asian countries at 7.9 percent and US at 6.9 percent.

Vietnam seeks to process 1.2 million tonnes of tra and basa catfish for export and generate around US$1.2 million this year.