(VOVWORLD) - The current coronavirus lock-down and social distancing in many localities is hampering the export of agricultural products. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has outlined a plan to help farmers and businesses recover.
 The first 20-ton batch of early-harvest lychees from Tan Yen district, Bac Giang province is shipped to Japan on May 26, 2021. (Photo: qdnd.vn) |
In the first four months of this year, 420,000 certificates of origin, worth 21 billion USD, were granted to Vietnamese products exported to markets enjoying preferential tariffs under free trade agreements, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The Import-Export Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade has asked its regional branches to facilitate certificates of origin for farm exports, especially products from epidemic-affected Bac Giang and Hai Duong province, and products currently being harvested or that have a short harvest time like lychees.
The Ministry has cooperated with localities and businesses to flexibly adjust production and trading methods to support agricultural product sales while following all COVID-19 prevention measures, and has worked with Hai Duong provincial authorities to ensure production, sales, and health safety.
In addition, it has conducted trade promotion activities to boost sales of Thanh Ha lychees and other products on digital platforms.
Hai Duong has collaborated with functional agencies to organize a ceremony to harvest lychees for export to Japan, the US, Europe, and Singapore.
Tran Duy Dong, Head of the Domestic Markets Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said: “We’re continuing to promote the sales of agricultural products and assisting the smooth distribution of agricultural products, even in areas where the epidemic has broken out.”
This is harvest time for many agricultural products in Vietnam. Late last month, the first 20-ton batch of early-harvest lychees from Tan Yen district, Bac Giang province was shipped to Japan.
 Mangoes from Muong La district in Son La province are on the way to China. |
At the same time, 60 tons of mangoes from Muong La district in Son La province were exported to China.
During a recent online meeting with Bac Giang leaders on protecting lychee sales, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said: “We’ve had meetings with the embassies of countries sharing a border with us and held phone talks with partners in China, Laos, and Cambodia about selling lychees to these markets at this time. Output is high this year, so we should pay attention to maintaining traditional export markets in the region in addition to satisfying the domestic market of nearly 100 million people. We need to maintain lychee sales in localities nationwide.”
To boost farm produce exports, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has sent experts to guide localities in harvesting, processing, and preservation. Preparations have been completed for the exports to China, the US, and Japan.
Tran Thanh Nam, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: “We have worked closely with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to strengthen animal and plant quarantines to ensure the quality of export shipments. More coordination with local authorities has been done in raw material areas, especially the zones growing lychee, longans, and dragon fruit.”