The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the General Administration of Customs of China have just signed a protocol to export frozen durian, fresh coconut and Vietnamese crocodile to China.

Frozen durian is a new product with higher added value than fresh durian - Photo: V.ANH

On the afternoon of August 19, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced that on the occasion of the state visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to the People's Republic of China, today the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and the General Administration of Customs of China officially signed 3 protocols.

The signed protocols include: Protocol on inspection, plant quarantine and food safety for frozen durian exported from Vietnam to China; Protocol on plant quarantine requirements for fresh melons exported from Vietnam to China; and Protocol on quarantine and health requirements for farmed crocodiles exported from Vietnam to China.

The signing of this protocol is an important step forward in the agricultural trade relationship between the two countries, especially for Vietnam's agricultural sector.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, frozen durian is considered a priority product with the potential to contribute significantly to agricultural export turnover. The official opening of the Chinese market for this product is expected to create great opportunities for the Vietnamese durian industry.

In 2023, Vietnam exported about 500,000 tons of durian, reaching a turnover of 2.3 billion USD, of which exports to China accounted for 90%. Frozen durian is a new product with higher added value than fresh durian.

Opening the market for this product will help diversify processing, reduce pressure on harvest season, and create greater added value for the durian industry.

It is expected that frozen durian exports can reach a turnover of 400 - 500 million USD in 2024, the first year after signing the protocol, and soon appear on the list of agricultural export products worth billions of USD in 2025.

For fresh coconut, this is also a product with great export prospects. The signing of this protocol marks the end of the technical negotiations between the two sides, opening up opportunities for Vietnamese fresh coconuts to officially access the market of 1.4 billion people.

Currently, Vietnam is one of the largest coconut producing and exporting countries in the world, with a planting area of ​​about 175,000 hectares, mainly concentrated in the Mekong Delta.

With the opening of the Chinese market, it is expected that fresh coconut export turnover can increase by 200-300 million USD in 2024 and continue to grow strongly in the following years.

This not only brings economic benefits but also motivates the Vietnamese coconut industry to develop sustainably, improving product quality to meet international standards.

Crocodile is the third product on the list of signings, demonstrating the diversification of Vietnam's export items.

The crocodile farming industry in Vietnam has developed over the past 30 years. Crocodile products such as meat, skin and other parts have high economic value. Opening the Chinese market to crocodiles will create great opportunities for this industry.

This is not only an economic opportunity but also a driving force for the Vietnamese crocodile farming industry to develop in a sustainable direction, ensuring environmental and animal welfare standards.

Minister Le Minh Hoan said that the signing of these three protocols is the result of active exchanges and negotiations between specialized units under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the General Administration of Customs of China.

"We expect this will contribute to strongly promoting agricultural exports, especially newly signed products to the Chinese market, contributing significantly to the growth of Vietnam's agricultural sector.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will continue to work closely with the General Administration of Customs of China to implement the next steps after the protocols are signed, to ensure that Vietnamese enterprises can export the above products to the Chinese market in the coming time," said Minister Le Minh Hoan.

Source: Tuoi Tre Newspaper