The minister requested localities and businesses to promptly implement the plans for the shrimp sector in 2019, while strengthening connections in shrimp value chain, considering it as the key to reduce cost and improve quality and value.

Cuong stressed the need to control the quality of the value chain from breeding shrimp, feed, environmental treatment products to production and processing stages to meet the demand of domestic and foreign markets, enhancing the competitiveness of Vietnamese shrimps.

Businesses should pay greater attention to processing, optimising the capacity of existing factories to create products with high added value, while continuing expanding shrimp markets, he said.

He asked agencies of the ministry to continue coordinating closely together in supporting the sustainable development of the sector.

He assigned the Directorate of Fisheries to summarise the opinions and recommendations of businesses for deploying timely solutions.

The Department of Agro-Product Processing and Market Development was asked to seek more markets for shrimps, especially finding ways to boost official export of shrimp to the Chinese market.

According to the MARD, in 2018, shrimp production fetched 762,000 tonnes, up 6.3 percent over 2017, ensuring materials for export processing.

In 2019, the sector is predicted to face a drop in export due to slower demand and unfavourable weather conditions that affect the production, as well as the US-China trade tension.
However, experts held that the sector would overcome difficulties in the year thanks to the determination of the political system and the effectiveness of signed free trade agreements.