Hanoi’s industrial production sailing through difficulties

Hanoi’s Industrial Production Index (IIP) in September rose by 0.7% from the previous month and 3.5% year-on-year, the Hanoi Statistical Office reported.

Increases were seen in such sector as processing and manufacturing, water supply and wastewater and waste treatment.

In the third quarter, the index went up 3% from the corresponding time last year, with processing and manufacturing up 2.7%; power production and distribution, up 5.4%; and water supply and wastewater and waste treatment, up 4.6%.

Notably, beverage production expanded by 13.9%; machinery repair, maintenance, and installation, 12.9%; paper and paper product manufacturing, 11.5%; the production of beds, cabinets, tables, and chairs, 10.5%; and food production and processing, 9.6%.

Besides, some sectors experienced a decrease in their IIP compared to the same period last year, including machinery and equipment manufacturing , down 13.6%; leather and related product manufacturing, 12.5%; metal production, 3.8%; non-metallic mineral product manufacturing, 2.3%; and apparel manufacturing, 2.2%.

In the first nine months of this year, the city's IIP grew by 2.6% compared to the same period last year, driven by manufacturing and processing up 2%; electricity production and distribution up 7.3%; water supply and wastewater and waste treatment up 6.1%; and mining down 2%.

Remarkable hikes were seen in beverage production, machinery repair and maintenance, drug and medicinal material production, wood processing and wood product manufacturing, and food production and processing.

Meanwhile, machinery and equipment manufacturing, leather and leather product manufacturing, apparel production, and metal production experienced drops in the index.

The product consumption index also increased by 1.7% in September, and 1.3% in the nine-month period.

Regarding workforce at industrial firms, as of late September, it was estimated to have increased by 0.1% from the end of the previous month but decreased by 2.8% against the same period last year. In the first nine months of this year, the labour utilisation index of industrial enterprises dropped 3.6% year-on-year.

Hanoi has maintained meetings and dialogues with businesses to learn about and timely address difficulties that they face while continuing with administrative procedures reform through decentralisation. The city prioritises attracting investments in clean industries and stimulating the consumption of industrial products.

Foreign arrivals in Phu Quoc triple in nine months

The number of foreign arrivals in Phu Quoc city, the southern province of Kien Giang nearly tripled to 470,538 in the first nine months of this year.

During the period, the city welcomed over 4.7 million visitors for sightseeing and leisure stay, accounting for 64.2% of the total arrivals in the province, up 15.5% annually. Its combined tourism revenue surpassed 12.2 trillion VND (508 million USD), making up over 84% of the province's total and showing a remarkable increase of 117.7%.

The inauguration of the Kiss bridge which has become a new symbol of Phu Quoc-Kien Giang, along with the Hon Thom cable car, has drawn a new stream of tourism to the pearl island.

The delectable "goi ca trich" (herring salad) and Phu Quoc's famous "ruou sim" (sim wine) have been recognised as some of the top 10 culinary treasures in Asia by the Asian Record Organisation. This recognition provides more opportunities to promote the impressive appeal of Phu Quoc tourism to travelers.

At the recent World Travel Awards for the Asia and Oceania, which is dubbed as the “Oscars of Tourism”, Phu Quoc was honoured as the Asia’s leading luxury island destination for 2023. In the accommodation category, Phu Quoc had five resorts named among the best in Asia.

Between now and the year’s end, the city will continue with concerted efforts to draw visitors and develop its tourism, including creating a pro-business environment, upgrading infrastructure and making thorough preparations to welcome tourists, especially during the Christmas, New Year and traditional New Year 2024 holidays.

It is planning to hold an international hot air balloon and paragliding festival, work closely with competent agencies to welcome Famtrip and Presstrip groups, both at home and abroad, that come to explore and experience the destination, and seek opportunities for tourism development.

Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Quoc city Pham Van Nghiep said Phu Quoc currently boasts 274 tourism projects, or 86% of the total in the province. They cover an area of over 9,300 ha and have a total investment of over 367.7 trillion VND.

Phu Quoc is also home to numerous world-class tourism projects and entertainment complexes developed by major groups such as Vingroup, Sungroup, BIMgroup, CEOgroup, he added.

Dong Nai’s FDI attraction surpasses yearly plan

The southern province of Dong Nai drew over 120 foreign-invested projects worth nearly 940 million USD in the first nine months of this year, surpassing the yearly plan by around 34%, said the Dong Nai Industrial Zones Authority (DIZA) on October 3.

DIZA head Nguyen Tri Phuong noted that many Chinese firms have partially relocated their investments to Vietnam.

During the period, Dong Nai licensed roughly 50 new FDI projects, including 17 from China with a total investment of approximately 150 million USD. Most of them rent spaces for operations in apparel, electronic spare parts and household appliances.

Thanks to its favourable geographical location, continuous administrative reform and infrastructure upgrade, Dong Nai has been drawing more and more interest from foreign enterprises, Phuong affirmed.

As its available land for industrial purpose is becoming limited, he said Dong Nai hopes that the State agencies will soon approve the development of five new industrial zones to make it easier for the province to attract large-scale, high-tech projects.

Dong Nai is now home to 33 IZs attracting over 1,430 FDI projects from 43 countries and territories, with a total investment capital of over 29 billion USD.

State Bank of Vietnam issues 409.9 million USD worth of T-bills

The State Bank of Vietnam on October 3 offered 28-day treasury bills (T-bills) worth 10 trillion VND (409.9 million USD) through the interest rate auction mechanism.

Six out of seven participants won the bid at an interest rate of 1.18%, the highest level recorded since the first issuance on August 18.

Over the past nine trading sessions, the central bank has net withdrawn some 110 trillion VND from the banking system through T-bills channel.

T-bills are short-term debt securities with maturities typically ranging from a few days to one year. Issued by the State Treasury, T-bills serve as a means for the Government to raise short-term funds to finance its operations.

According to economic experts, the central bank's continuous issuance of T-bills is aimed at adjusting the short-term liquidity in the banking system, thus stabilising the USD/VND exchange rate and addressing the issue of excess capital.

The BIDV Securities Joint Stock Company (BSC) said this is a common practice of the central bank to regulate the abundant liquidity in the interbank market.

State budget revenue down 8.3% in nine months

The State budget revenue was estimated at over 1,223 trillion VND (50.8 billion USD) in the first nine months of this year, or 75.5% of the estimate, marking an annual decrease of 8.3%, according to the Ministry of Finance.

Specifically, domestic revenue managed by the tax authorities in September totalled 75.6 trillion VND, bringing the nine-month figure to more than 1,013 trillion VND, or 76% of the estimate, down 3.2% year-on-year, reported Director General of the General Department of Taxation Mai Xuan Thanh.

Thanh attributed that to the difficulties faced by businesses in their operations and the enforcement of financial support policies for people and firms.

As of the late September, about 49.6 trillion VND in taxes were exempted and reduced while around 102.9 trillion VND had their payment deadlines extended, he said, predicting that the State budget collection will still meet difficulties in the final quarter.

He said the sector will focus on measures to increase revenues to the State budget, ensure accurate and timely collection, enhance the recovery of overdue debts, thus striving to meet and exceed the assigned revenue target.

Addressing a meeting in Hanoi on October 3 to launch the sector's tasks for October and the remaining months of this year, Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi asked relevant units to fine-tune laws and ensure the schedule and quality of schemes and programmes previously set.

They were also urged to strengthen price management, especially prices of necessities such as petrol and electricity to curb inflation while enhancing the supervision of the stock and corporate bond markets to ensure their transparent and legal operations.

Vietjet launches five new int'l routes, offering cheap tickets

Vietjet will open five new international routes connecting Hà Nội to Hong Kong, Phú Quốc to Taipei and Busan, HCM City to Adelaide and Perth to respond to passengers’ demands with favourite international destinations, the airline has announced.

The flights connecting Hà Nội to Hong Kong will be officially operated from December 22, 2023, with seven return flights per week. This is Vietjet's fourth route connecting Hong Kong with the largest cities in Việt Nam, after HCM City, Đà Nẵng, Phú Quốc-Hong Kong routes.

Meanwhile, the flights connecting Phú Quốc to Busan will be officially launched from December 10, 2023 with seven return flights per week.

The airline said the flights on Phú Quốc-Taipei route will be available from January 17, 2024 with four return flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

It added that it will provide seven return flights per week on routes linking HCM City with Perth and Adelaide from November 21, 2023.

To jubilantly welcome these routes, Vietjet pampers passengers with a "big party" of international flight tickets from only zero đồng from now to October 10 at www.vietjetair.com and Vietjet Air mobile phone app. The flight schedule is from now until October 31, 2024.

HCM City to host international industrial machinery expo 2023

The International Exhibition on Industrial Machinery, Equipment, Technology and Products (VINAMAC EXPO 2023) will take place from November 15-17 in HCM City.

The event is expected to attract the participation of more than 750 businesses from many countries and territories, such as India, Germany, Taiwan (China), the United States, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Russia, and China.

On display across more than 1,000 booths will be a range of cutting-edge industrial machinery and equipment in the field of automation, welding and cutting, metallurgy, metal processing as well as technological products for the plastic, rubber, food processing, and chemical industries.

The event is anticipated to provide an ideal venue in which both local and foreign businesses can strengthen connectivity, introduce their latest machinery and equipment, as well as meeting the businesses’ demand for production activities and helping them to overcome numerous difficulties in the current situation.

A number of seminars and business forums will be held during the course of the event to discuss issues on the recycled plastic, rubber, and chemical industries.

Furthermore, an international skill competition on the field of welding will be held as part of efforts to help businesses and organisations share professional experience, as well as providing high-level training for workforce in the welding, cutting, and metal processing industry.

Moreover, international business delegations will conduct field trips to survey industrial parks, export processing zones, and factories in HCM City, Bình Dương, and other neighbouring provinces.

Nine-month cashew exports record double-digit growth

Vietnam exported 456,000 tonnes of cashew nuts worth US$2.6 billion during the initial nine months of the year, up 19.6% in volume and 14.3% in value year on year, reported the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

September alone witnessed businesses ship 60,000 tonnes of cashew nuts abroad, earning US$328 million, up 56% in volume and 39.6% in value compared to last year’s corresponding period.
  
The average cashew export price recorded throughout the nine-month period stood at US$5,722 per tonne, down 4.5% year on year.

Some of the country’s major cashew export products include W320, W240, and W180, accounting for 63.55% of total Vietnamese export volume and 70.0% of total export turnover.

Statistics indicate that since August, Vietnamese cashew exports to the United States have witnessed a significant rebound. The cashew industry is anticipated to see robust growth, particularly following US President Joe Biden’s Vietnam visit on September 10-11, 2023.

Meanwhile, cashew nut exports to China have also recorded high growth, which will also make a remarkable contribution to the overall export growth for the entire year.

Vietnam's cashew exports are projected to thrive ahead in the remaining months of the year as the demand for cashew nuts for the coming holidays and other festivals will increase sharply during the year-end period.

Chinese demand for Vietnamese lobsters falls

Vietnamese lobster exports to China sharply fell by 42 percent year on year to USD76 million during the first eight months of this year, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). 

While China is applying stricter conditions on imported agricultural, seafood, and forestry products, the country is turning away from lobster exports through unofficial channels from Vietnam.

Vietnam accounted for just eight percent of China’s 32,358 tonnes of lobster, valued at USD962 million, in the first seven months of this year.

According to local lobster exporters, China has turned to importing lobsters from Canada, the US, New Zealand, Cuba, India, Brazil, and Mexico due to their clear origins and better prices.

On September 22, China refused to accept six tonnes of lobsters from Vietnamese exporters at Mong Cai Border Gate due to disease prevention issues.

To maintain a foothold in the Chinese market, which is still the biggest market for Vietnamese lobster sellers, it is necessary to create an official channel for export, VASEP suggested.

"Farmers should co-operate with traders to define product origin and then seek necessary certificates from local authorities to export their products," VASEP said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has just announced a plan for lobster farming and exports by 2025 with annual output of 3,000 tonnes and export revenues of USD 200 million. The three provinces of Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, and Kien Giang will be the main hub for lobster farming.

VND2 trillion in VAT refunded to wood industry firms

Wood industry enterprises, primarily woodchips and wood pallets exporters, have received value added tax (VAT) refunds totaling VND2 trillion as of today.

According to Thang Van Thong, vice head of the wood chip section under the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association (Viforest), the refunded VAT amount is part of the total outstanding VAT refunds of over VND6 trillion pending settlement.

Many localities have already settled VAT refunds for businesses, including Ninh Thuan, Phu Yen, Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Binh, and Thanh Hoa provinces.

Thong emphasized the significance of the VAT refunds for the enterprises at this point in time, as they will help firms stabilize their business operations and production in the near future.

Previously, the delay in VAT refunds for an extended period had posed numerous challenges for businesses in the wood industry.

Over time, wood industry enterprises have submitted multiple requests to competent authorities, seeking the removal of hindrances to tax refunds.

Following the prime minister’s instruction, the General Department of Taxation, on September 8, urged heads of local tax departments to expedite the settlement of VAT refund requests for businesses.

By the end of August, businesses across sectors had got VAT refunds totaling VND87.2 trillion, or 46.9% of the total estimated tax refunds for the entire year of 2023, reported the General Department of Taxation.

Vietnam’s pangasius exports rebound

Pangasius fish had contributed US$1.4 billion to the country’s export revenue as of the end of September, indicating signs of recovery, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
Despite a 31% drop compared to the same period last year, pangasius exports to key markets such as China, the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, the Netherlands and the U.K. have steadily increased.

In September alone, pangasius exports saw a year-on-year increase of 9%, contributing to overall growth in Vietnam’s aqua-product exports to major markets, with growth rates ranging from 4% to 17% compared to the previous year.

According to VASEP, China and Hong Kong are the largest buyers of Vietnamese pangasius, having spent US$378 million importing pangasius-related products from Vietnam in the first eight months.

The U.S. follows closely behind, with US$184 million spent on pangasius imports from Vietnam during the same period. Vietnam’s pangasius exports to EU markets have achieved double-digit growth compared to last year.

VASEP highlighted that the recovery in major export markets is a positive sign for exporting businesses, with the potential to boost export revenue in the remainder of the year.

Thousands of footwear factory workers walk off the job in Nghe An

Around 6,000 workers have walked off the job at Viet Glory Co., Ltd. in the central province of Nghe An in protest of low pay and unreasonable work rules, reported the local media.

They began walking out yesterday afternoon, October 2, when thousands of workers refused to work and staged a protest at the parking lot. They left the company at around 1:30 p.m.

Employees of the footwear company are seeking an increase in base salary, a review of company executives’ behaviors, changes in meeting schedules, a 13th-month bonus based on actual working hours and sufficient maternity leave.

By the end of the day, the company’s management responded to the workers’ demands, emphasizing that they could not raise salaries due to business difficulties. However, the company said that it would consider requests regarding the 13th-month bonus and hazardous duty pay in accordance with its welfare regulations.

The company also called for all workers to return to work and warned that those who took a leave of absence for five days in a month without prior consent from the employer would have their contracts terminated.

Despite the company’s response, the workers continued walking out today morning, expressing their disagreement with the company’s leadership.

Viet Glory was established in 2019 in Dien Truong Commune, Dien Chau District, Nghe An Province, with an expected annual production capacity of 25 million products.

Workers at the company previously walked off the job after the Lunar New Year holidays in 2021 and 2022 to demand a pay rise.

HCMC has one of lowest public investment disbursement rates in Vietnam

HCMC is one of the five cities and provinces in the country that have the lowest rates of public investment disbursement, according to data from the Ministry of Finance.

The city has in the year to date met only 30% of the public investment disbursement target, below the national average.

Phan Van Mai, chairman of the People’s Committee of HCMC, identified land clearance as a significant obstacle to disbursement. Despite some improvements, the city has lagged in its rate of public investment disbursement.

The four others are Tra Vinh, Vinh Long, Soc Trang and An Giang provinces.

Tran Quoc Phuong, deputy minister of Planning and Investment, said that the disbursement rate in the first nine months of this year has edged up by 4.68%, or over VND110 trillion, compared to the same period last year.

Data from the General Statistics Office showed that public investment in the third quarter is estimated at nearly VND183 trillion, which met 25.3% of the full-year plan and grew by 30.1% against the second quarter, and 27.3% year-on-year.

Despite these figures, as many as 42 ministries and state agencies and 26 localities have disbursement rates below the national average of 51.38%.

Meanwhile, eight other ministries and state agencies and 27 localities have achieved high disbursement rates, exceeding 55%. Long An Province took the lead with a disbursement rate of 93.85%, followed by Binh Duong Province with 91.28% and Dong Thap Province with 84.06%.

Tien Giang Province, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province and Haiphong City also posted high disbursement rates, at 83.49%, 81.52%, and 81.02%, respectively.

Over 1,200 businesses in HCMC expected to cut jobs this year

In response to tough business conditions, more than 1,200 enterprises in HCMC are planning to cut jobs this year, reported the Centre for Forecasting Manpower Needs and Labour Market Information HCM City (FALMI).

A survey conducted among nearly 10,000 businesses on labor quality and demand in the past three months showed that over 1,200 businesses, accounting for 12.73% of the total respondents, intend to lay off staff this year, according to FALMI.

The sectors with the most significant workforce reductions include wholesale and retail, house building, real estate, and car sales and repair services.

In addition, fields such as architecture, technical inspection and analysis, specialized construction, warehousing and transportation, and civil construction are also witnessing substantial layoffs.

According to the survey, over 61% of enterprises in HCMC have reduced working hours or implemented rotating work schedules, while 9% of respondents have temporarily suspended employees with partial remuneration support.

Meanwhile, 19% of the surveyed businesses stated they would reduce their workforce and 9% suspended employees without any remuneration assistance.

The survey indicates that in the third quarter of the year, 54,200 employees were laid off or underemployed across the country, primarily at foreign-invested enterprises. Of these cases, 31.9% and 30.9% were in the footwear-leather and garment-textile sectors.

German group to invest $1.6 billion stainless steel plant in Ha Tinh

VFT Industry UG plans to invest €1.5 billion ($1.57 billion) in building a stainless steel plant in the central province of Ha Tinh.

Zahn-Weber said that the plant will cover 250 hectares in Vung Ang Economic Zone and will have an annual output of 1.1 million tonnes.

The plant will be installed using modern technology and apply a circular, eco-friendly, and automated model, which will match Ha Tinh’s target of sustainable development.

The German investor first expressed its intention to develop the project in Ha Tinh at an investment promotion event organised by the local people’s committee in May.

In welcoming the investment, Hai highlighted Ha Tinh’s advantages, including Vung Ang-Son Duong Port, which is capable of accommodating ships of up to 300,000 tonnes; abundant workforce, and streamlined administrative procedures.

He urged the manufacturer to cooperate with local authorities to field survey locations for project implementation.

Ha Tinh, home to a mega steel complex run by Taiwanese group Formosa, recorded a 4.37 per cent on-year growth in its index of industrial production in the first eight months of this year, according to provincial data. Stainless steel output in January-August was over 3.31 million tonnes, up 6.25 per cent.

National Assembly proposed to soon approve policy for social housing projects

The Government has just proposed the National Assembly soon apply the policies for social housing projects which are expected to be applied in 45 days after the draft Housing Law (amended) and Real Estate Business Law (amended) are approved.

The Ministry of Construction sent a report to the National Assembly about the number of apartments and houses being successfully transacted equaling 43 percent over the same period last year.

The real estate transactions are mostly among the land plots decreasing 68 percent over the same period in 2022.

The Minister of Construction identified that the real estate still remained uncertainty from the risk of a bubble market, lack of supply in segments and the product structure not matching demand.

In the second quarter, the number of completed projects reached 50 percent over the first quarter and equaled 29 percent over the same period last year.

Many projects have been ceased or are being slowly implemented due to difficulties in legal and capital matters.

Besides, the real estate prices have surged highly causing difficulties for people in need. The apartment prices in the capital city of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City bounced in the second quarter despite the slowdown real estate market.

In the resort real estate segment, the price has been decreasing due to high capital costs.

The Ministry of Construction said that the selling price for villas and land plots projects in many localities has been down from two to five percent over the first quarter. Notably, some shop-houses have been offered for sale from ten to 15 percent.

Meanwhile, the real estate market has been short of the affordable segment. According to the Economic Committee of the National Assembly, the proportion of the segment decreased from 20 percent in 2019 to under five percent in 2022.

Many solutions have been carried out to remove the difficulties and boost the real estate market, especially the social housing project, comprising the completion and submission of the National Assembly to promulgate the draft Housing Law (amended) and Real Estate Business Law (amended) will be approved. Of which the management agencies proposed the National Assembly to soon apply policies for social housing project which is expected to be valid in 45 days after the National Assembly approves the law.

The working team of the Prime Minister will continue to work with localities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to review the difficulties and remove obstacles related to real estate projects.

The working team has received 108 official letters reflecting the difficulties and petitions of localities and enterprises related to 168 real estate projects. The number of official letters is being reviewed and handled.

In order to increase the supply in accordance with the demand and employee income, the Ministry of Construction proposed a construction project of at least one million apartments under social housing projects for low-income workers and employees at the industrial parks in the period of 2021 – 2030 which is set to be accelerated.

Exhibition showcases advanced metalworking, industrial solutions

An array of advanced metalworking tools and industrial solutions from nearly 300 brands of 20 countries and territories are on display at the 16th edition of the Vietnam’s International Exhibition on Machine Tools & Metalworking Solutions for Production Upgrade (METALEX Vietnam 2023) and International Electronics Manufacturing Technology Trade Exhibition and Conference (NEPCON Vietnam 2023), which opened in Ho Chi Minh City on October 4.

Director General of RX Tradex Vietnam Vu Trong Tai said METALEX Vietnam has become an important event that helps industrialists to keep up with the development trend and update their knowledge with the latest technologies in metalworking and manufacturing.

Meanwhile, NEPCON Vietnam serves as a venue for leading suppliers and subcontractors to meet and give technical consultations on surface-mount technology (SMT), testing technologies and smart production for the supporting industry, he stressed.

According to Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Mechanical Enterprises (VAMI) Nguyen Chi Sang, METALEX Vietnam 2023 and NEPCON Vietnam 2023, themed “Creating the Next Giant Manufacturer”, will bring complete metalworking solutions for industrialists who are seeking ways to improve production capacity in a fierce competitive environment.

Besides, the exhibitions also help the business community get access to various industrial production models in the region, he said.

Running until October 6, the events will feature a mechanics workshop and a metal puzzle competition.

EC inspectors to work with Ba Ria - Vung Tau on combating IUU fishing

The European Commission (EC) inspection team is set to work alongside Ba Ria - Vung Tau authorities on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing from October 10 to October 15.

According to the plan, the team will examine the situation of seafood exploitation and processing in Ba Ria-Vung province. This marks the fourth time that the inspection team has visited the locality to recognize the locality’s efforts and determination to fight IUU fishing.

Specifically, the team will seek to examine the control of fishing vessels violating foreign waters, fishing vessels entering and exiting ports, fishing vessels operating at sea, IUU fishing activities at fishing ports, and the output of Ba Ria - Vung Tau.

Furthermore, it will check the implementation of regulations on installation of cruise monitoring equipment, operational management and data processing of fishing vessels that lose connection, and go outside Vietnamese waters.

The team will also check regulations relating to the registration and exploitation licenses for fishing vessels, make a list of IUU fishing vessels, a list of fishing vessels at high risk of violating IUU fishing, and responsibilities of captains of all fishing vessels.

The work of confirming and certifying the origin of exploited seafood for shipments exported to Europe will also be inspected by the EC in Ba Ria - Vung Tau.

Most notably, the delegation will also work alongside a few businesses that have shipments exported to Europe in order to check documents and procedures for confirming and certifying seafood materials exploited in Vietnamese waters and imported materials.

According to Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, the province will provide practical evidence and results of implementing the EC’s recommendations on combating IUU fishing so that they can consider removing the warning "yellow card" placed on the Vietnamese seafood industry.

Before working with the EC, on October 6 and October 7 the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) will work alongside the People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province to check the implementation of the recommendations of the EC on combating IUU fishing in the area.

Recently, the MARD adopted a master plan for the upcoming fourth working session, scheduled to run from October 10 to October 18, with the EC’s inspection team over the country’s efforts to combat IUU fishing.

The team will consist of representatives of the EC’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) and Delegation in Vietnam.

The inspection targets the implementation of the EC recommendations on IUU fishing, with a specific emphasis placed on the monitoring of fishing vessel activities in Vietnamese waters, vessel arrivals, departures at ports and their activities at sea, imported raw materials, and origin tracing of seafood from fishing.

Source: VNA/SGT/VNS/VOV/Dtinews/SGGP/VGP/Hanoitimes