vietnam fisheries jan 02
FISHERIES SECTOR TARGETS EXPORT
VALUE OF USD 2 BILLION IN 2002
Ha Noi, Jan. 20 (VNA) -- The fisheries
sector has targeted an export turnover of USD 2 billion and a total output of
2,35 million tonnes of aquatic products this year.
It also attaches importance to protecting natural resources by
developing off-shore fishing and aquaculture, and finding more markets for
aquatic produce.
It plans to invest more than VND 5,877 billion (USD 391.3 million)
to raise the natural catch to 1.4 million tonnes and maintain this output for
several years. It will increase the acreage of water surface for aquaculture to
940,000 ha, and spend VND 2,530 billion (USD 168.66 million) to build
infrastructure for aquaculture and develop aquatic produce farming.
Shrimp breeds and fries producing regions will be formed to meet
the requirements of aquaculture establishments nationwide. Efforts will also be
concentrated on the upgrading and building of feed-for-shrimp-and-fish factories
to raise the present production capacity of 64,000 tonnes to 100,000 tonnes.
Last year, the sector invested more than VND 5,000 billion (USD
333.3 million) in capital construction, a 51 percent year-on-year increase.
Eight fishing ports were put into operation under a project on upgrading
infrastructure of Viet Nam's fishing port system, which was financed by loans
from the Asian Development Bank.
In 2001, 109 new fishing vessels were launched, increasing the
off-shore fishing fleet of the country to 6,005 vessels with combined capacity
of 1 million HP. By the end of 2001, the country had 887,500 ha for aquaculture,
36.12 percent more than 2000. The area included 408,00 ha of fresh water.
The sector, in 2001, earned more than USD 1.7 billion from exports
of aquatic produce, representing 110 percent of the yearly plan, a 19 percent
year-on-year increase; and gained an output of 2.28 million tonnes, surpassing
the plan by 5.14 percent, a 13.8 percent year-on-year increase.
Viet Nam now has 61 businesses permitted to ship their aquatic
products directly to the EU market, and nearly 100 businesses qualified for
exporting aquatic products to the U.S. Eight areas marked off for producing
bivalves for export in Ho Chi Minh City and Tien Giang, Ben Tre and Kien Giang
provinces meet EU standards.
In 2001, Viet Nam exported aquatic products worth USD 481 million
to the U.S. market, or 27 percent of Viet Nam's overseas sales of aquatic
products. Japan, China, Hong Kong, and EU also imported large amounts of aquatic
products from Viet Nam.
This year, more than VND 365 billion (USD 24.33 million) will be
invested in diversifying aquatic products for export and raising the
competitiveness of these products in the world market.--VNA