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In particular, when the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement takes effect, Vietnamese
products will gain a competitive edge in the market as tariff lines will fall to
0-5 percent over the next seven to 10 years.
At the Vietnam-EU Trade Forum held by the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s
Department of European-American Market in Hanoi on December 6, Deputy Minister
Cao Quoc Hung stressed that the EU is a prosperous economic bloc, with a gross
domestic product (GDP) accounting for 23 percent of the world’s economy, and an
income per capita mounting to 40,890 USD.
With 28 member states, the EU’s total population reaches some 516 million people
with high demand for imports, including farm produce. Meanwhile, more than 10
key Vietnamese agricultural products have been present in over 160 countries and
territories worldwide, many of which have gained more than 1 billion USD in
export revenue like coffee, rice, cashew, vegetables, and fruits, he added.
However, Deputy Head of the Agro Processing Market Development Authority (AgroTrade)
Tran Van Cong said that besides robust achievements, shipments of farm produce
still face a number of hurdles, like processing ability and undeveloped
branding.
Therefore, export turnover is still a far cry from expectation, while earnings
have been shared through dozens of intermediary stages.
Trade experts have said that the loose connections between farmers and
businesses is the first barrier to agricultural exports to the EU. Some 70
percent of agricultural materials have been purchased directly from farmers, who
are not fully provided with appropriate cultivating techniques.
In addition, out-of-date post-harvesting technology is another factor that
hinders exports, resulting in a loss of up to 30 percent in farm production.
As the EU sets strict criteria in food safety, antibiotic residues, and product
origin, Alexandre Bouchot, Agricultural Counselor of the French Embassy to
Vietnam, suggested decentralising management of food policies as well as
promoting investment in the sector.
Research and development activities should be paid due attention and the
agricultural sector needs to be reformed to develop in a sustainable manner.
France is willing to share its experience with Vietnam in this field, he added.
Source: VNA
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