Russian fishermen say they want to expand cooperation with Vietnam
The All-Russian Association of Fishery Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Exporters (VARPE) expects to strengthen cooperation with Vietnamese fish processors. The country has significant capacities for the production of fish fillets and meat. In terms of exports of these products, Vietnam and China will almost equalize in 2024. German Zverev, president of WARPE, told Izvestia on January 15.
"While the PRC is losing its status of the world's fish processing factory, Vietnam, on the contrary, is building up its potential. Now the local production facilities are loaded with domestic aquaculture raw materials - pangasius and tilapia, which are inferior to wild fish in terms of taste and useful properties. Russia could provide Vietnamese processing with such raw materials. We estimate the potential of frozen cod supplies at least 15 thousand tons per year," Zverev said.
According to him, the role of Vietnam as one of the key partners of Russian processors is also growing. Now it is among the top 5 suppliers of the country in terms of supply volumes. The main import position is frozen tuna meat (75% of the total volume of supplies), which is used to produce canned food popular in the country. Russia, however, catches tuna in minimal volumes as bycatch and cannot cover the demand of the domestic market.
"We also buy inexpensive aquaculture shrimp from Vietnam, the consumption of which continues to grow. The development of relations between the two countries in the field of fish processing is an extremely promising direction. Especially taking into account the free trade agreement between the EAEU and Vietnam, which has been in force since 2015," Zverev summarized.
Earlier, on January 13, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin flew to Vietnam on an official visit. The next day he met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Tinh. The parties approved 13 "road maps" and agreed to increase trade turnover to $15 billion in 2030. On January 15, the heads of government met with representatives of business circles of both countries.
