On the evening of February 28, 2023, the Embassy of Norway in Hanoi coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development the official visit of the State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Erling Rimestad to Vietnam and organized a seminar “Vietnam – Norway: Opportunities for cooperation in aquaculture and export of seafood”.

BOTH COUNTRIES ARE AMONG THE WORLD’S LEADING FISH EXPORT COUNTRIES

Speaking at the seminar, Norwegian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Erling Rimestad paid tribute to the bilateral relationship between the two countries in many areas, particularly the effective coordination in the fisheries sector.

“Norway and Vietnam share a common interest in equitable and sustainable development of fisheries and fisheries in the context of increasing global challenges, especially climate change. Technological innovations will play an important role in ensuring success. From here, new opportunities also open up to deepen our traditional partnership,” said Erling Rimestad.

Ms. Hilde Solbakken – The Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam said Norway is proud of its cooperation with Vietnam in the fisheries, aquaculture and maritime sectors and considers it one of the focal points of the more than 50-year relationship, friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnam’s Fisheries Development Strategy to 2030, Vision to 2045, issued by the Prime Minister in 2021, also set a series of goals for Vietnam’s fish industry, including gradually reducing exploitation of natural resources and increasing aquaculture in appropriate areas. Vietnam is a country with great potential for sustainable and responsible aquaculture development,” said Ambassador of Norway Hilde Solbakken.

Mr. Phung Duc Tien, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, highly appreciated Norway’s support to Vietnam, especially the fishing industry, over the past 30 years, from building the legal framework to providing technical assistance, technology, training and capacity building.

Deputy Minister Tien said Vietnam’s fish industry is entering a new stage of development. In 2022, Vietnam’s seafood production and export has achieved many positive results: the growth rate of seafood production value increased by 4.1% compared to 2021; Total production reached 9,026 million tons, up 2.7% compared to 2021. Seafood export turnover reached a record of about US$11 billion in 2022, up 23.8% compared to 2021, making Vietnam the third largest exporter of seafood products worldwide.

Despite being the world’s third-largest seafood exporter, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien said Vietnam is also a seafood importing and consuming country. In 2022, Vietnam is Norway’s largest consumer of seafood in Southeast Asia with a total production of about 50,000 tons, of which the most consumed item is salmon, an increase of 49% compared to 2021.

In May 2021, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Norway and Vietnam, both sides signed an online memorandum of understanding with the aim of strengthening and expanding cooperation in the aquaculture industry. Therefore, the deputy minister wishes that the cooperation between the two countries will bring Vietnam’s marine agriculture industry to a new height.

SEA FARMING MANY CHALLENGES THAT REQUIRE COOPERATION TO SOLVE

Mr. Tran Dinh Luan, director of the General Department of Fisheries, said that in 2022, the marine farming area in Vietnam will be about 9 million m³ (including: 4 million m of sea fish cages; 5 million m of lobster cages); Total production of 717,000 tons, an increase of 10.7% compared to 2021 (648,000 tons), of which: sea fish 45,000 tons; lobster 2.5 thousand tons; mollusks 400,000 tons; other objects 270 thousand tons.

The total number of mariculture farms (incomplete statistics) is about 7,447 farms with 248,748 cages at the end of 2022.

Vietnam has also achieved many scientific research successes in the field of marine aquaculture. That is, researching and perfecting the technology of seed production and commercial breeding of some marine fish species such as grouper, yellowfin pompano, barramundi, snapper, cobia, giant tiger… Seed production technology, commercial breeding of some molluscs: clams, clams, abalone, pacific oysters… Research and complete the technology of rearing HDPE plastic cages

The project to develop aquaculture by 2030, with a vision by 2045 clearly states: further development of mariculture into large-scale raw material production, synchronous, safe, efficient, sustainable and industrialized industry, protection of ecological environment, production of branded products.

According to Mr. Luan, the Vietnamese shipping industry still faces many challenges.

The first, At present, they are mainly raised by the traditional method of cage farming near the coast, small and fragmented, with limited agricultural infrastructure, inefficient production techniques, pollution and disease are still high.

Monday, Industrial marine aquaculture farms are still thin and lack resources for synchronous investment, especially offshore farming assistive technology investment.

Tuesday, Links in the value chain between farms and the system of food supply, breeding, processing, consumption and distribution of products, etc. are still limited.

Wednesday, Science and technology in seed production is limited, the use of feed is not up to standard, and garbage fish is still used, which pollutes the environment.

Thursday, The human resources involved in marine aquaculture are small in number, have weak technical skills and are inexperienced in operating marine aquaculture on an industrial scale.

Friday, Harsh natural conditions Since Vietnam is a tropical country, many storms and winds pose a threat to aquaculture.

Therefore, Mr. Luan expressed his desire to have more opportunities to learn from Norway’s experience in building a national brand for Vietnam’s industrial marine aquaculture products from his salmon branding experience.

Asbjørn Warvik Rørtveit, Regional Director for the Asia-Pacific region of the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), Mr. Asbjørn Warvik Rørtveit, who attended the workshop, shared the success story of Norwegian salmon. “The core of the Norwegian aquaculture industry is a combination of traditional knowledge and modern science, with environmental protection being an important criterion,” said Mr. Asbjørn Warvik Rørtveit.

Norway has successfully farmed and marketed Atlantic salmon since the 1970s. The Norwegian coast stretches to the North Pole. This is the ideal prerequisite for keeping cold-water fish. Salmon is raised in its own natural environment. Norway has many useful lessons to share with Vietnam across the industry value chain to help make aquaculture operations more sustainable and lower carbon.

“By working together, the two countries can develop more environmentally friendly and sustainable practices for the Vietnamese seafood industry, thereby continuing to spur innovation in the industry and make Na Uy and Vietnam prosperous and responsible fishing nations,” said Mr. Asbjørn Warvik Rørtveit.

Also on this occasion, the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) announced its operational plan in Vietnam. Accordingly, in 2023, NSC will increase its trade promotion activities in Vietnam to let more customers know about the presence of Norwegian seafood. NSC also has programs and plans to meet, connect and promote trade between import-export companies of the two countries.