The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), the global representative of the Norwegian seafood industry, has been collaborating with Vietnamese partners to develop sustainable and quality seafood to meet growing demand from Vietnamese consumers and contribute to the development of Vietnam's seafood sector.

Working with local partners allows the NSC to add value to Norwegian seafood, bring the best Norwegian seafood to Vietnamese consumers, benefit stakeholders, and promote the sustainable growth of the Vietnamese seafood industry, said Åshild Nakken, director of Southeast Asia for the NSC.

The council has spent the first half of this year promoting its collaborative efforts in Vietnam through effective strategic partnerships with retail chain WinMart and Golden Gate Group, a restaurant chain operator.

It expects to expand its partnership portfolio in the second half of the year through collaborations with Royal Seafood, BRG Mart, FujiMart, GoFood, Vimexfood, and Kiwi Food.

These partnerships allow the NSC to bring Norwegian seafood to retail outlets and eateries, Nakken told news site VnExpress, adding that Vietnam is an important Southeast Asian market driven by a large, dynamic consumer base and growing demand for new culinary experiences.

According to a survey conducted by the council, 84.6 percent of Vietnamese consumers said that packaging with clearly marked origins had a significant positive influence on their purchasing decisions. 

The survey also showed that Vietnamese consumers appreciate the quality and traceability of Norwegian seafood.

Along with beefing up cooperation with its Vietnamese partners, the NSC plans to launch a slew of sales promotions on the Vietnamese market, including a cooking contest co-hosted by the NSC and Erling Haaland, a Norwegian super-star footballer and the global ambassador for Norwegian seafood, according to Nakken. 

Norwegian seafood products with labels denoting ‘Seafood from Norway’ and a portrait of Erling Haaland, the global ambassador of Norwegian seafood. Photo: Supplied

The NSC has also invested in enhancing seafood knowledge among Vietnamese gastronomic experts, chefs, and retailers in Vietnam. Specifically, it hosted the ‘Norwegian Salmon Academy’ in Hanoi in June 2023 for 180 Vietnamese experts, chefs, and retailers.

The program involved experienced Norwegian trainers providing trainees with comprehensive knowledge and skills relating to the handling, processing, and sale of Norwegian salmon. 

The  trainees were granted certificates after the course, the NSC said, adding that a similar training program will be conducted in Ho Chi Minh City in November.

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