Vietnam has seen an increase of 20 percent in the imports of shrimp in the last three years, an expert said at a press conference in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday.

Dr. Le Thanh Luu, director of the ICAFIS, an organization established under the Vietnam Fisheries Society (VINAFIS), emphasized that the figure was alarming for the industry.

“Imports rose 20 percent while Vietnam’s shrimp exports have not increased,” he said.

“This illustrated that the country’s shrimp industry has been undeveloped and uncompetitive.”

Compared to other countries including Thailand, Indonesia and India, the Vietnamese shrimp industry has seen a number of weaknesses in the breeding technology and production process, according to the expert.

Vietnam’s shrimp prices are therefore higher than other countries’ products, Luu concluded.

The government should change its policy to ensure the quality of shrimp and meet the global standard.

A workshop named ‘Aquaculture Vietnam Conference 2016’ is expected to take place in Ho Chi Minh City on October 20 to discuss more ways to strengthen the country’s maritime industry.

The free-admission event will be part of an international exhibition on the livestock, animal feed and meet processing industry organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.