December 30, 2008

Vietnam's seafood export flourishes in Egypt

Vietnamese seafood export is flourishing in Egypt despite the global financial crisis, according to the Vietnamese Trade Office (VTO).

Head of VTO in Egypt, Tran Ngoc Quang said there is great demand in Egypt for seafood and agricultural products because the country can meet only 35 percent of domestic demand.

Quang said Vietnamese shrimp and catfish which are usually on sale in most supermarkets were popular with Egyptians.

Head of the import and export division at Hung Vuong Ltd Company, Van Anh Kiet said seafood exports to Egypt rose sharply after its first shipment to Egypt last year.

Kiet said the company has plans to develop more on the Egyptian export market in 2009.

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP) said Vietnam sold US$60 million worth of seafood to Egypt in the first 10 months of this year.

Quang said the Vietnamese exporters did not face stiff price competition from other exporters.

He added that Vietnamese exporters could move into the African market after business stabilises in Egypt.