The Belgian Federal Parliament (IPU section) visited Can Tho University

On March 9th, the Belgian Federal Parliament (IPU section) visited Can Tho University, a long-time academic partner of Belgium, especially in researches related to aquaculture, fisheries, and the development of sustainable bio-products. With a budget of around 8 million EUR since 1997, the strong academic cooperation between Belgium and Can Tho University have contributed to the sustainable economic development of the Mekong Delta region and to the adaptation of Vietnamese aquaculture to climate change.

The delegation also visited the Mekong Delta Institute on Climate Change (Can Tho University) to learn more about the studies that have been done on climate change, especially in the Mekong Delta region.

source: Embassy of Belgium in Vietnam

Belgians are from now on allowed to enter Vietnam with an e-visa

Belgium was recently included in the list of countries whose nationals are now allowed to enter Vietnam on the basis of an e-visa. That decision was approved by the Vietnamese government in the form of a decree (No 17/2019 / NĐ-CP). Although it officially went into effect on 01/02/2019 (and runs until 01/02/2021), it was only implemented on 25/02/2019.

Visa applicants must register on the website https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/ to fill in the required information. The payment of 25 USD has to be done online too. According to the information from that website, the application is processed within 3 working days. You must print the visa to enter Vietnam.

E-visas are limited to one entry and valid for a maximum duration of 30 days. The destination is not limited to tourism alone; Business people can also use it. Only visitors in the framework of an official visit, members of the diplomatic corps, their families and their guests, still have to follow the old process. The visa with a view to long stay must also be applied for via the traditional process.

For further questions we advise you to contact the Vietnamese authorities.

Vietnam gains US$4 billion trade surplus with EU in two months

 

Europe has emerged as a potential market for an array of Vietnamese products, including garments and textiles, footwear, wooden items.

The General Statistics Office of Vietnam reported that exports to the EU edged up 1.2 per cent on year to US$6.3 billion during the two-month period while imports from the block enjoyed a dramatic surge of 15.9 per cent to US$2.2 billion, therefore resulting in a trade surplus of US$4.1 billion for the Southeast Asian country.

During January, Vietnam obtained a trade surplus of US$2.5 billion with the EU as the nation earned US$3.77 billion from exports while imports from the block only reached US$1.26 billion. Notably, Vietnam recorded trade surpluses with a number of EU member states in January, including the UK, Austria, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, France, and Italy.

Hoang Quoc Vuong, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, valued the European region as a significant market for Vietnam, noting that the country has always given priority to increasing co-operation with partners on the continent.

Europe has emerged as a potential market for an array of Vietnamese products, including tropical fruits, garments and textiles, footwear, wooden items, and telephones. Simultaneously, Vietnam could potentially serve as a bridge helping to accelerate the access of European firms and their goods to the wider Southeast Asian region.

Another facilitating factor is that Vietnam has signed and put into force a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Eurasian Economic Union while finalizing negotiations on the much-anticipated EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. Vietnam is also maintaining efforts to complete negotiations on an FTA with the European Free Trade Association.

With several trade deals pending, they are expected to further leverage Vietnam’s trading position with European partners once they come into force.

Vietnam has so far established 23 partnerships through intergovernmental committees, joint committees, and bilateral policy consultations with European countries. These partnerships have helped to further bolster bilateral co-operation in trade and investment as well as giving the ability to promptly ease difficulties and barriers facing enterprises from both sides.

Statistics released by the General Department of Vietnam Customs indicate that bilateral trade between Vietnam and Europe swelled to US$62.11 billion last year. Of which, Vietnam raked in US$44.93 billion from exports to Europe while recording a trade surplus of US$27.75 billion, hence helping to boost the country’s trade balance.

Vietnam is now home to 3,300 projects invested by European enterprises, with a combined investment capital of nearly US$50 billion.

Source: VOV

 

 

Vietnamese insect-based aquafeed firm raises €1m, plans 10,000t plant

Vietnam-based alternative aquafeed firm Entobel has raised €1 million in funding, and is planning a new plant to expand its operations in the near future, Belgian co-founder Gaetan Crielaard told Undercurrent News.

The firm — which produces a 60% protein ingredient from insect larvae, which it calls “H-Meal” — is currently completing the setup of it commercial plant in Vietnam, with an expected capacity of 1,000 metric tons per year.

Insect meal producers believe their time in aquaculture has come

However, Crielaard and fellow co-founder Alexandre de Caters have raised €1 million in funding, from strategic Vietnamese investors and “business angels” from Western Europe — mainly Belgium — and are now planning a wider reach.

Now the firm plans to build a 10,000t H-Meal plant in Vietnam, beginning construction next year, and is also planning expansion wider within Southeast Asia and Latin America, it said.

“The biotech company is globally well positioned to become a major stakeholder in the insect protein industry, thanks to its low [capital expenditure] and [operating expenditure] model,” it said. “A research center will also be established to improve insect rearing and processing technologies. To achieve this ambitious goal, Entobel continues looking for strategic partners and investors.”

The first commercial batches from the existing plant will be available by mid-2019, and full capacity will be reached by the end of the year, said Crielaard.

After winning the 2017 Aquaculture Innovation Challenge in Ho Chi Minh City, the firm said it was seeking €9m in funding, and a Vietnamese partner. He told Undercurrent the firm had revised its funding targets slightly so as not to go “straight in at €9m”, but that this was still an intermediary phase.

While he could not name his investors, he did say none of them were existing feed sector players at this stage.

Entobel has “demonstrated the scalability and viability of its operations” with the existing plant,  and investors have been “attracted by the potential of the company to produce large volumes of insect protein at a price competitive with other standard protein sources”, the firm said.

The Hermetia illucens derived feed has been successfully tested by international feed companies, with trials performed for shrimp and several fish species, including snakehead and tilapia, it said.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam’s New Board of Management 2019

On the 28th of February, ICHAM Annual General Meeting was held in Hanoi and HCMC, in Casa Italia and Nikko Hotel respectively, via video conference.
During the assembly, towards the end, took place the election of the new councillor of the Board of Directors. The two candidates were Mr. Luca Puglielli, General Manager of TND Vietnam Trading Corporation, and Mr. Joseph Perucca, General Director of GIVI Vietnam. The assembly chose Mr. Perucca and BeluxCham would like to send a congratulation on ICHAM’s New board of Management 2019!
We hope that we will have many corporations with ICHAM in the future.