Ireland is trying to ship more dairy, pork, and seafood products to the Vietnamese market in the near future, Minister of State at the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine Martin Heydon told a press meeting in Hanoi on Wednesday.

The European island country exported €30 billion (US$29.96 billion) worth of goods to Vietnam in 2021, with dairy products accounting for €25 million ($24.95 million), seafood €4 million ($3.99 million), and processed food €1 million ($998,900).

Heydon assessed that there is great potential in the trade relationship between the two countries, given the implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which can open up many cooperation opportunities.

In accordance with the terms of the EVFTA, Irish milk exports to Vietnam will enjoy a tax rate of zero percent starting January 1, 2023, instead of 15 percent as at present.

The Irish minister said Ireland wants to export safe, high-quality products to Vietnam so that Vietnamese consumers can have more choices. 

Among that, the dairy sector will be Ireland’s focus for an export increase in the Vietnamese market, according to Heydon.

In addition to dairy, Ireland expects to export more pork and seafood products, which the European country is supplying to 180 countries around the world, to Vietnam.

Regarding imports, Michael Murphy, CEO of the semi-state agency responsible for the promotion, trade development, and marketing of Irish food, drink, and horticulture, said that Ireland and many European countries are importing textiles and footwear from Vietnam.

Murphy also highly appreciates the quality of rice, coffee, and mango produced by Vietnam, affirming the country’s need to import these products from the Southeast Asian country. 

It also pledges to be an effective cooperation partner of Vietnam in general, the CEO added.

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