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Vietnam, Norway to step up cooperation in sustainable fisheries

Vietnam, Norway to step up cooperation in sustainable fisheries

Thursday, March 02, 2023, 17:43 GMT+7
Vietnam, Norway to step up cooperation in sustainable fisheries
State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Erling Rimestad gives a speech at the seminar 'Norway - Vietnam: Cooperation Opportunities in Aquaculture and Seafood' held in Hanoi on February 28, 2023. Photo: Embassy of Norway in Hanoi

Vietnam and Norway will strengthen their bilateral cooperation to develop the fisheries sector in a sustainable manner amid the global trend toward greener and more sustainable development where technologies and science-based solutions play a key role, heard a seminar held in Hanoi on Tuesday.

The seminar 'Norway - Vietnam: Cooperation Opportunities in Aquaculture and Seafood' was organized on the occasion of a visit to Vietnam by State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Erling Rimestad.

In his remarks at the seminar, Rimestad spoke highly of the Norway-Vietnam bilateral ties, particularly in the fisheries sector.

“We find ourselves at the top of the list of seafood exporters – Norway as the second-biggest in the world and Vietnam as the third," Rimestad.

“We are in the fortunate position that this does not make us competitors – in fact we complement each other as seafood nations.”

Norway exports salmon, cod, king crabs, and shrimp, while Vietnam is a big supplier of farmed tra fish and shrimp, Rimestad added.

Meanwhile, Ambassador of Norway to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken said, “Norway takes pride in the cooperation with Vietnam in the fisheries, aquaculture, and marine sectors, and sees this as a central part of the more than 50 years of friendship and cooperation since we established diplomatic relations in 1971."

Speaking at the seminar, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agricultural and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien highly appreciated the support and assistance from Norway to the ministry and the Vietnamese fisheries industry over the past three decades. 

According to Tien, the seminar was a great opportunity for the two countries to deepen their bilateral cooperation in marine aquaculture on an industrial scale, to promote bilateral trade in seafood products, and to realize the areas of cooperation as stated in the Letter of Intent signed between Norway and Vietnam in May 2021.

Sharing the Vietnamese fisheries sector’s priorities in the coming time, director general of the Fisheries Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Dinh Luan said Vietnam has made important achievements in marine aquaculture technologies and techniques.

It is now shifting to marine aquaculture on an industrial scale, which is more sustainable from both social and economic perspectives, taking into consideration the protection of natural resources and the environment, to meet the strict requirements of the consumption markets, Luan added.

He also expressed hopes to learn from Norway’s experience in developing the national branding for Norwegian salmon to develop a national brand for Vietnam’s aquatic products on an industrial scale. 

In response, Southeast Asia director of the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) Asbjørn Warvik Rørtveit said combining traditions with knowledge and a modern scientific approach, always keeping the environmental context in mind, forms the basis for Norwegian aquaculture. 

“In 2023, NSC will strengthen promotional activities in Vietnam so that many consumers know about the presence of Norwegian seafood, as well as build programs to meet, connect, and promote trade between import and export enterprises of the two countries," Rørtveit added.

“Any Vietnamese importer can register to use the trademark 'Seafood from Norway' to attach to their products.”

Norway and Vietnam have cooperated in the fisheries sector for nearly 40 years. There are currently more than 10 Norwegian enterprises operating in Vietnam in this field.

According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, in the fishery and aquaculture sector, Vietnam exported US$9.4 million worth of products to Norway and spent $259.8 million on imports from the Northern European country, up 16.5 and 5.2 percent, respectively, year on year.

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Thanh Ha / Tuoi Tre News

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