2017 marked a milestone of $3.8 billion in Vietnam’s shrimp export value. To achieve the target of 10 billion dollars in 2025, the sector is witnessing drastic changes in various fields, while gradually building its trademark amidst fierce global competition.

Thanks to strong technology use in production, Vietnam’s shrimp sector has witnessed major steps forward. Notably, the country has, for the first time, taken the initiative in breeding, providing over one fourth of breeding needs instead of importing from other countries.

According to Dang Quoc Tuan, Vice President of the Viet Uc Group, his firm has focused more on quality by shifting to technology application, building product development measures to meet customers’ demand.

Many shrimp farming areas in the country have been provided with the EU’s Aquaculture Stewardship Council certification, strengthening the market’s trust in Vietnam’s shrimp.

Vietnam has for the first time shipped 3.8 billion USD worth of shrimp abroad, up 20 percent from 2017.

Experts said, to raise competitiveness, businesses’ connecting role in the production chain plays a vital role.

 “More investments will be poured into research, especially in breeding”, said Vu Van Tam, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The government has approved a high technology agricultural zone which applies technology to shrimp production. Similar zones will be established in other provinces, Tam added.

According to Tran Dinh Luan, Deputy Director General of the Directorate of Fishery under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development there have been many firms connecting farmers with processing facilities.

Luan said in the future, it is hoped that more enterprises will follow this model so the production chain will be well controlled.

The Vietnam shrimp development strategy has set an ambitious target of exporting 10 billion US dollars of shrimp in 2025. The figure is said to suit the potential and production capacity of the sector. 

However, what is more important is the quality and prestige so that Vietnam’s shrimp can affirm its position in the global market.-VNA