EU helps tra fish supply chain sustainability
(VOV) -The European Union (EU) has contributed nearly EUR1.9 million to a EUR2.4 million Sustainable Pangasius Supply Chain (SUPA) project in Vietnam, launched in Ho Chi Minh City on August 2.
The project was established by the Vietnam Cleaner Production Centre (VNCPC), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), and the Vietnamese and Austrian branches of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
It is one of a number of projects designed to help Vietnam’s tra fish industry expand its global market reach and improve the sustainability of its production.
The EU will directly support the creation of a complete supply chain bringing Vietnam’s tra fish products to foreign importers and end-users. The EU is Vietnam’s largest tra fish customer.
VASEP Secretary General Nguyen Hoai Nam said the project will be implemented in four years (2013–2017). Its benefits will include increased production capacity, enhanced product quality, environmental footprint minimisation, cost reductions, and resource use efficiency boons.
The project also includes information exchanges and technical expertise for small and medium-sized businesses to deepen their understanding of sustainable production principles.
VASEP said Vietnam’s total tra fish production volume stands at 1.19 million tonnes, accounting for 20.3 percent of the country’s total seafood. Vietnamese tra fish are exported to 142 foreign markets.
The industry earned US$1.744 billion in revenue last year.
Around 2,900ha of Vietnam’s 5,600ha of tra fish breeding grounds have sustainable production certification.