Month: July 2022

The demand for tuna in foreign markets amid the strong rise in prices of other foodstuff is predicted to lead to a surge in tuna export volume and value of Vietnam, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

The association reported that in the first six months of this year, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) countries, the third largest market of Vietnamese tuna after the US and Europe, imported 68 million USD worth of the fish from Vietnam, a 50% rise over the same period last year.

In addition, VASEP said the US Department of Agriculture has announced that the US faced the highest inflation in the past 40 years, with foodstuff prices increasing by 19% compared to the average level in the past 10 years, including that of chicken, a popular cheap protein source in the US.

Meanwhile, the price of chicken and poultry meat in the US is forecast to continue to increase from 15% to 18% in 2022. VASEP held that when the prices of cheap protein foodstuff increase, tuna could be a good alternative of US consumers. Therefore, the association held that Vietnamese tuna is enjoying more opportunities in such markets. This year, tuna export turnover is expected to reach about 1.1 billion USD, up 45% from the previous year, considering a 56% growth in the first six months of the year.

Tuna export turnover in June reached 90 million USD, a year-on-year increase of 41%, bringing the value for the first half of the year to 553 million USD, a year-on-year rise of 56%.

Regarding markets, VASEP said that good growth was seen in most major markets except the EU, Israel and Egypt.

As of the end of June, tuna export value to the US totalled more than 300 million USD, up 96% over the same period last year.

Besides the three major export markets, tuna exports to Saudi Arabia, Thailand, the Philippines and Russia also increased.

VASEP forecasts that tuna exports in the second half of the year will continue to grow well, but at a slower rate./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

More than 5,000 people joined a charity walk in support of agent orange (AO)/dioxin victims at Dam Sen Culture Park in Ho Chi Minh City on July 31.

The programme was jointly organised by the Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA)’s chapter in HCM City, the Vietnam Television and the Vietnam Communications Development JSC, on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the dioxin disaster in Vietnam (August 10).

Addressing the event, Major General Tran Ngoc Tho, Chairman of VAVA’s chapter in HCM City, highlighted the significance of the programme which has been held for 14 years, saying it has contributed to the call for contributions of domestic and international organisations to easing pains of AO/dioxin victims and supporting them in stabilising their lives.

He said so far this year, the association has mobilised 9.6 billion VND (over 411,311 USD) for supporting 10,300 AO/dioxin victims in the locality.

The association will build a village worth about 100 billion VND (over 4.28 million USD) in Hoc Mon district in this year in order to give care, provide treatment and vocational training for AO victims, he said.

On the occasion, the organisers presented gifts to families of AO victims, and provided financial support and wheelchairs for AO victims with difficult circumstances./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa has been working hard to protect marine ecosystems through various measures.

Along with a Nha Trang Bay marine reserve run by the People’s Committee of Nha Trang city and a coral reef marine ecosystem protection area in Xuan Tu village, Van Hung commune, Van Ninh district, Khanh Hoa has also had a centre for the rescue and conservation of wild aquatic species operated by Vinpearl Land in Hon Tre island.

The Fisheries Sub-Department of Khanh Hoa has regularly coordinated with these offices to rescue and preserve maritime species and release them to the wild.

Meanwhile, it has advised the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to release fries to natural waters to reproduce natural fisheries resources every two years.

Funded by the Centre for Resilience and Sustainable Development (CRSD) and the World Bank (WB), Khanh Hoa has set up 15 fisheries management models in 15 coastal communes and wards with the engagement of nearly 2,000 households, thus strengthening the management of fishing activities towards sustainable direction.

In respond to the degradation of the coral reef in local waters, Nha Trang has banned diving and swimming activities in Nha Trang Bay area, especially around Hon Mun (Mun Island) from June 27. Prompt activities have also been conducted to protect and recover coral reefs and prevent activities that harm them in the waters./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Myanmar has issued new health guidelines for incoming travellers through airports, which will take effect from August 1, according to the country’s Ministry of Health (MOH).

Under the new guidelines, travellers are required to present proof of vaccination with an MOH-approved vaccine and a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test issued 48 hours before arrival.

Children aged under 12 traveling with fully vaccinated parents or guardians are exempted from the vaccination requirement.

As per the health guidelines, travellers should also present a health declaration form and a COVID-19 rapid test requisition form, the ministry added.

For foreigners, a COVID-19 medical insurance purchased from Myanmar Insurance is required to show at the airport.

At the airports’ quarantine and immigration counters, each passenger’s swab will be taken for a COVID-19 RDT test, with the result given within an hour, according to the ministry.

Travellers testing positive for COVID-19 are required to be isolated, transferred and treated at a designated hospital, a treatment centre or a hotel, it said.

Myanmar’s nationals who don’t have a proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test issued 48 hours before arrival could take relief flights. But they must fulfill the seven-day quarantine requirement, the ministry added.

State guests or foreign delegates may seek exemptions from the requirements by submitting a request letter to the related ministries at least five working days before the arrival date, it added.

Myanmar recorded 40 new COVID-19 cases on July 30, bringing the total tally to 614,083, including 19,434 deaths./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

A strategy for developing agricultural mechanisation and agro-forestry-fishery processing has been approved, aiming to turn Vietnam into one of the top 10 agricultural processing centres in the world by 2030.

The strategy, signed off by Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh, looks to develop modern, efficient and sustainable agricultural processing to meet the demands and standards of the global market.

Among its objectives, over 90% of work in the cultivation of key crops is to be mechanised by 2025 and over 70% of work in cultivation in general will be completely mechanised by 2030. The respective targets are more than 80% and 60% for animal husbandry, over 70% and 90% for aquaculture, 85% and over 95% for fishing and cold storage on fishing boats.

The agricultural processing industry is expected to record an annual growth rate of over 8% in its added value by 2025 and 10% by 2030. Post-harvest loss of key crops is to be curtailed by 0.5% – 1% annually. Processed products will make up 60% of the export value of key farm produce.

In this strategy, Vietnam plans to develop modern agricultural processing enterprises whose financial strength and governance are in line with global firms. It is also set to develop industrial clusters for farm produce processing that are linked with concentrated and mechanised material production zones./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Young Vietnamese diving athletes have secured three medals at Russia’s multi-aquatic sport Friendship Games 2022, which is taking place at Kazan city.

In the tournament’s second stage of springboard diving competition from July 25-29, Dang Hoang Tu and Dinh Anh Tuan, both born in 2007, won silver in the men’s double 3m soft platform and bronze in the men’s double 10m hard platform. According to their coach Hoang Thanh Tra, Tu also secured bronze in the men’s singles 10m hard platform.

They were competing with 86 athletes from eight countries and territories worldwide.

Meanwhile, on July 28 evening, the Vietnamese synchronised swimming team, consisting of eight athletes and three coaches, arrived in Kazan to participate in the games’ third stage that runs from July 29 to August 3.

The sport tournament consists of three stages, with the first running from July 19 to 26 and gathering 776 swimmers from 11 countries worldwide. In the first stage of swimming events, nine Vietnamese athletes participated in competitions./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

A delegation of the National Assembly (NA)’s Committee for National Defence and Security paid a working visit to the United States and the United Nations from July 26 to 30.

The delegation, led by Chairman of the committee Maj. Gen. Le Tan Toi, held talks with Chairman Adam Smith and Ranking Member Mike Rogers of the US House of Representatives’ Armed Services Committee.

The Vietnamese lawmakers also met with Congressman Joaquin Castro, Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on ASEAN and member of the US House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Senator Tammy Duckworth, member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services; Senator Bill Hagerty, member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and Committee on Appropriations; Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security John Tien; Assistant Secretary of State Jessica Lewis; and Assistant Secretary of Defence Ely Ratner.

The delegation had meetings with the assistants to President Pro Tempore of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations Patrick Leahy, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Jack Reed, and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee Jim Inhofe.

Speaking at the events, Toi affirmed that Vietnam consistently views the US as a leading partner and highly values the US’s support for an independent and prosperous Vietnam.

Vietnam always wishes to develop the comprehensive partnership with the US in an increasingly substantive, stable, and long-term manner on the basis of respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political regimes.

The US officials said the Southeast Asian nation is an important partner of their country, and that the US parliament strongly supports the two countries’ relations and hopes bilateral ties will record new strides.

They pledged to continue supporting Vietnam’s economic development and enhance defence and security cooperation, with a focus on helping Vietnam address war consequences, including environmental remediation of dioxin contamination and unexploded ordnance clearance, assist the disabled, search for Vietnamese soldiers’ remains, and improve maritime capacity.

The US side also expressed their readiness to assist Vietnam in UN peacekeeping operations and other fields that suit both sides’ conditions and demand.

The Vietnamese and US officials also discussed measures for further reinforcing parliamentary ties, shared information and experience in legislative and supervisory activities and transnational crime fight, and exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.

At the meeting with UN Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support Atul Khare, Toi thanked his host and the UN for actively assisting Vietnam to engage in UN peacekeeping operations and improve the country’s stature and capacity in the settlement of international affairs.

He called on the UN and the Under-Secretary-General to continue helping Vietnam contribute more to the UN’s noble goal of resolving conflicts and maintaining peace and stability for all people around the world.

The official asked the UN to create conditions for Vietnam to further take part in peacekeeping operations, help with training for Vietnamese forces, and pay attention to compensation for Vietnam’s contributions and losses when performing peacekeeping duties. He also suggested stronger trilateral cooperation and that the UN consider organising training courses for countries’ peacekeeping forces in Vietnam.

For his part, Khare highly valued Vietnam’s active support, participation and contributions to UN peacekeeping operations, affirming continued assistance for the country in training.

He also voiced his hope that Vietnam will share its experience in training peacekeeping personnel with other countries, especially those in its region./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

A total 1,670 COVID-19 cases were logged on July 30, raising the national caseload to 10,778,154, according to the Ministry of Health.

A total 7,974 COVID-19 patients were given the all clear on the day, bringing the number of recoveries so far to 9,905,519. There are 42 patients in serious conditions needing breathing support.

No death from COVID-19 was recorded in the past 24 hours. The total fatalities stood at 43,093.

On July 29, 641,639 doses of vaccines were administered, raising the total number of doses of COVID-19 vaccines injected to 245,398,698./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency