VIETNAM’S SEAFOOD PROMOTED IN BRUSSELS EXPO

Vietnamese enterprises are showcasing their products at the Brussels Seafood Expo 2019 in Belgium from May 7-9, aiming to give Vietnamese seafood a firmer foothold in the European market.

On the sidelines of the event, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development worked with the Vietnamese Embassy and Trade Office in Belgium and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) to hold a forum on Vietnamese seafood and cooperation prospects.

VASEP also collaborated with the Directorate of Fisheries and the southernmost province of Ca Mau to organise a seminar on tra fish and Vietnamese shrimp.

Speaking at the forum, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said the Vietnamese fisheries sector focuses on developing its products towards applying modern technology, increasing product quality and values, diversifying products, and ensuring food security, safety and hygiene.

Javier Cordova Fernandez, Deputy General Manager at Mitsui & Co Europe PLC, said the company has bought Vietnamese shrimp products for years thanks to their good quality and competitive prices.

European consumers pay attention to their health, he stated, advising Vietnamese enterprises to increase product traceability and expand the use of organic feed in aquatic farming.

Last year, Vietnam exported 275,800 tonnes of aquatic products to the EU, earning 1.4 billion USD, making it the second biggest importer of Vietnamese aquatic products.

The signing and ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement in the time ahead is also expected to raise the Southeast Asian nation’s export turnover thanks to tariff cuts.

Source : VOV

BELGIAN FRIES EXPORTERS PENETRATE DEEPER INTO VIETNAM

Belgian fries exporters plan to increase their share in Vietnam’s growing market for processed potato products, and heighten awareness of Belgian fries in Vietnam and the region.

It is a five-nation promotional campaign in Southeast Asia, co-ordinated by VLAM and Belgapom, the association for the Belgian potato trade and processing industry. Accordingly, the Flanders Agricultural Marketing Board (VLAM) has recently brought five major Belgian fries exporters to Vietnam, including Agristo, Bart’s Potato Company, Clarebout Potatoes, Ecofrost, and Mydibel.

They represented the five biggest family-owned businesses in the industry in Belgium offering a wide range of potato products and specialties that are exported to over 100 countries worldwide. The exporters showcased their products Food & Hotel Vietnam 2019 to deeper penetrate the Vietnamese market.

“Hot on the heels of exhibiting in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, we are pleased to bring Belgian fries to Vietnam this time round as part of our plan to increase our presence in the Southeast Asian region,” said Romain Cools from Belgapom. “There is an existing market in this region for our products, but we see an even bigger opportunity to expand exports and heighten appreciation for our national delicacy.”

According to Cools, the consumption of potatoes and related products in Vietnam is still low at nearly 4 kilogrammes per capita per year but it has been rising over the last 30 years. Overall demand is increasing because of a 1.1 per cent per annum increase in the population. The current population is 93 million and is expected to rise to 113 million by 2050.

“Vietnam is well-known as a food-lover’s paradise and Vietnamese consumers really know and love good food. Belgian fries are still relatively unknown in Vietnam, so we are excited about this opportunity to share one of Belgium’s most beloved national dishes with Vietnam,” he said.

Belgium is the largest exporter of frozen fries in the world, with 90 per cent of its production sent to the global market. In 2018, Belgian companies processed an astonishing 5 million tonnes of potatoes.

Belgian fries have a long history and have become part of the country’s heritage, with many shops and stands in Belgium serving this delicious savory snack. In fact, the ubiquitous Belgian fry shops that can be found in every city or village have been recognised as part of the cultural landscape in Belgium, with UNESCO status being sought for the dish since 2014.

By Thanh Van

 

NEW BROCHURE ON BELGIAN CHAMBERS

BLCCA are currently investing in new communication tools for the Federation and for the chambers. A new brochure to present the local chambers of commerce in Belgium is our first newborn. Get familiar with the wide array of services offered by our chambers and download the brochure. If you want to have printed copies, we’re happy to send you some. Next in line is the brochure for the BLCCA. We will be in touch with you to receive your input.

TURKISH AIRLINES PROMOTION

Turkish Airlines would like to offer you our promotion from Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City to top destinations in Europe, Africa and America only from  18.815.000VND*.

 

Sales period: until 17 May 2019

Travel period: until 31 December 2019

 

Destinations applied:

From Ha Noi:

Milan, Warsaw, Berlin, Budapest, Stockholm, Zurich, Chicago, New York, Prague, Johannesburg, Vienna, Paris, Lisbon, Montreal, Dublin, Boston, Bologna, Brussels, Amsterdam, Houston, Rome, Helsinki, Madrid, Geneva, Frankfurt, Sofia, Bucharest, Nice, Athens, Venice, Washington DC, Toronto, Copenhagen, Atlanta, Barcelona, Los Angeles

From Ho Chi Minh City:

Milan, Warsaw, Berlin, Budapest, Stockholm, Zurich, Chicago, New York, Prague, Vienna, Paris, Lisbon, Dublin, Boston, Bologna, Brussels, Amsterdam, Addis Ababa, Houston, Rome, London, Helsinki, Madrid, Frankfurt, Sofia, Bucharest, Venice, Washington DC, Toronto, Copenhagen, Atlanta, Barcelona

 

For booking requests, please contact the nearest agent or directly us at email address sgnmarketing@thy.com (Ho Chi Minh City request) /hanmarketing@thy.com (Ha Noi request).

 

*All-inclusive price. Subject to change as tax and currency fluctuation. Conditions applied. 

 

EABC BUSINESS SENTIMENT SURVEY

EU-ASEAN Business Council has just launched their fifth business sentiment survey of European businesses in Southeast Asia and Beluxcham is writing to ask for your kind assistance to promote the survey . Your responses would assist in formulating a position for European businesses in ASEAN; how further support and promotion of European interests in the region can be done, such as accelerating the negotiation of FTAs and highlighting the need for more private-public sector dialogue and faster developments on the ASEAN economic integration agenda.

The EU-ASEAN Business Sentiment Survey is read by Ministers and Senior Officials both in the EU and ASEAN. The publication had been quoted by ASEAN Ministers during regional conferences and Ministerial meetings (including most recently at the ASEAN Finance Ministers meeting in Chiang Rai at the beginning of the month).  Previous surveys have highlighted the strong commitment of European businesses to the ASEAN region, which helps in EU-ASEAN Business Council’s advocacy efforts across Southeast Asia.  You will also wish to be aware that DGTrade will be taking the results of the section of the survey on FTAs to help formulate policy towards future FTA negotiations with the ASEAN region (they have also commissioned  a survey of ASEAN companies on this topic to get a better understanding of the views of local businesses at this end).

Last year, 51% of the respondents saw ASEAN as the region with greatest economic potential ahead of China, which was a distant second place. However, with the changes taking place in the global, political and trade landscape; it is critical to ascertain if that view still stands. Therefore, we would like to seek your help in sending the survey out. The link to this year’s survey is here:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EABSS2019  It should take no more than 15 minutes for anyone to complete it.

You can view last years’ results here https://www.eu-asean.eu/publications

Thank you for your help.  It is important that we get as many companies as possible to respond.  We appreciate the time you have taken and will actively use it to further support and promote European interests in the region.