A ceremony to announce the export of Vietnamese passion fruit to Australia and Australian plum to Viet Nam took place in Ha Noi on September 9.

The event was jointly organized by the Plant Protection Department, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), and the Australian Embassy in Viet Nam.

Speaking at the event, head of the Plant Protection Department Huynh Tan Dat said, Vietnamese fruits have been exported to over 60 nations and territories over the world.

Viet Nam's fruit export revenue hit US$4.63 billion in the first eight months of 2024, representing an increase of 30.6 percent compared to the same period last year, thanks to the opening of several key markets.

According to the MARD, Viet Nam currently has nearly 9,500 hectares of land under passion fruit cultivation, producing nearly 190,000 tonnes annually. Passion fruit is among the 18 fruit varieties with an annual production output exceeding 100,000 tonnes. Notably, 80 percent of the annual harvest is purchased by enterprises for processing and export.

Viet Nam ranks among the top 10 largest producers and exporters of passion fruit in the world, after Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

The Vietnamese fruit is being exported to markets with stringent quality, phytosanitary, and food safety requirements, such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, China, and Switzerland.

Remarkably, Vietnamese passion fruit is available in 20 countries, in many forms such as fresh fruit, frozen fruit, and juice.

Australian Ambassador to Viet Nam Andrew Goledzinowski said, in the coming time, the two countries will continue to complete procedures so that Vietnamese grapefruit and Australian blueberries will be available in each side's market.

Bilateral trade turnover reached US$13.8 billion in 2023, making Australia the 10th largest trading partner of Viet Nam, while Viet Nam ranks 7th among Australia's largest trading partners./.