On the afternoon of April 2, the British Embassy announced that the UK has been officially allowed to export fresh seafood to Vietnam, marking an important breakthrough in trade cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnam currently has the highest per capita seafood consumption in Southeast Asia, with about 37kg of seafood per person per year, creating favorable conditions for increased exports from the UK. According to the forecast of the Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB), opening the Vietnamese market will bring about 20 million pounds to the UK seafood industry in the next 5 years.

SAGB also assessed that UK seafood exports to Vietnam have grown strongly, with the output of fresh, frozen and processed products increasing by 40% (from January to September 2024) compared to the same period in 2023. Accordingly, the export of fresh seafood from the UK to Vietnam will contribute to promoting economic growth and expanding trade cooperation opportunities between the two countries.

Mr. Daniel Zeichner, Secretary of State for the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs shared: "The UK's high-quality seafood is increasingly recognized globally. The Vietnam market access agreement is a testament to our commitment to promoting exports and helping UK businesses access potential international markets".

David Jarrad, Chief Executive of SAGB, said: "We are delighted to have worked with the relevant government agencies of the UK and Vietnam to reach this export agreement. The expansion of the market is a great signal for the seafood industry and reflects the strong demand from global markets for fresh seafood from the UK."

Through dialogue and cooperation with the Vietnamese government agencies, the UK Department for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) have successfully removed regulatory barriers and introduced UK fishing and seafood production standards to Vietnam. In addition, the government agencies will continue to work closely with UK businesses and seafood associations to ensure effective trade cooperation and promote connections between Vietnamese importers and UK seafood businesses.

Source: Tin Tuc Newspaper