Seafood is a sector that Canadian export businesses assess as having many opportunities in the Vietnamese market.

After more than 5 years of implementing the CPTPP Agreement, Vietnamese seafood enterprises have taken full advantage of the Agreement to increase exports to CPTPP countries. And conversely, seafood is also a field that Canadian export enterprises assess as having many opportunities in the Vietnamese market.

Canada is exporting many types of natural seafood to Vietnam such as lobster, crab, oyster, and geoduck, which are warmly welcomed by Vietnamese people because of their delicious quality.

During the visit and working session of Mr. Steve Craig, Minister of Aquaculture and Fisheries of Nova Scotia province (Canada) in Ho Chi Minh City, the Canadian delegation said that the Canadian Government always wishes to strengthen the cooperative relationship with Vietnam, especially in the field of seafood export .

Mr. Steve Craig and his delegation visited Canadian seafood businesses in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Dai Viet.

Mr. Steve Craig shared that Canada has an Atlantic region specializing in seafood export production. This region has about 160 products exported to 150 countries such as lobster, snow crab, oysters, snails and many other types of seafood.

In 2022, the Atlantic region exported about 3.36 billion USD worth of seafood. Of which, Vietnamese people consumed about 66 million USD worth of seafood from Canada and Vietnam also exported to this country about more than 292 million USD.

Mr. Steve Craig said that Canada and Vietnam are carrying out many activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2023. In Southeast Asia, Vietnam is Canada's largest trading partner. In 2022, bilateral trade between the two countries is expected to reach about 14 billion USD.

In terms of seafood exports , Vietnam ranks 4th in the world . In terms of seafood consumption per capita, each Vietnamese person consumes about 37 kg of seafood per year, ranking 23rd in the world . Therefore, Vietnam is an important seafood export market for Canada in Southeast Asia. Canada always wants to strengthen trade relations with Vietnamese businesses, investors and people. Because Vietnam loves seafood and Canada is a place that can provide Vietnamese people with quality, delicious seafood. The Canadian government and consulate are committed to enthusiastically supporting this strong relationship.

According to Ms. Jessica Yang, representative of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, regarding the requirement to trace the origin of imported food , including seafood, under Canada's new food safety law. Notably, seafood is also a field that Canadian export enterprises assess as having many opportunities in the Vietnamese market.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Duong, Deputy Director of the European - American Market Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, commented: “The overall Vietnam - Canada relationship in general, as well as the economic - trade relationship between the two countries in particular, has developed very positively in recent times. For Vietnam, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) creates new opportunities for both sides to promote bilateral relations to new heights. This is the stage where management agencies must seize the opportunity to provide support, simply put, “holding hands” with businesses, together with businesses to enter the game to realize the advantages in CPTPP.”

Illustration: Internet

Mr. Duong said that Canadian managers also have very similar thoughts to Vietnamese management agencies, and this is an advantage in the process of realizing the benefits that the new business environment (CPTPP agreement) brings.

In general, Vietnamese enterprises have taken advantage of their advantages to develop key product lines such as shrimp and pangasius. In particular, shrimp exports to the bloc increased by 51% and quickly covered markets such as Australia with a growth rate of nearly 60%; Canada increased by 56%... Pangasius products also had impressive growth in Mexico with a growth rate of 70% - making this country the third largest importer of pangasius from Vietnam after the US and China./

Bich Huong