Belarus commits to prioritizing registration applications for seafood imports from Vietnam

The meeting between Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien and Deputy Minister Ivan Smilgin aimed to discuss enhancing economic and trade relations between Belarus and Vietnam, opening markets, granting certification for Belarusian beef exports to Vietnam, and increasing imports of Vietnamese seafood and other agricultural products into Belarus.

Additionally, leaders of the two ministries exchanged views on visits by officials from their respective agricultural agencies and business representatives. Notably, the meeting also explored opportunities for a Vietnamese delegation to participate in the Belagro 2025 International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition, scheduled for early June 2025 in Belarus.

Sharing with Mr. Ivan Smilgin, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien stated that 2024 marked a significant milestone for Vietnam's agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports, reaching a record export turnover of USD 62.5 billion. Among these, seafood accounts for a substantial proportion of Vietnam’s exports to Belarus.

Over the years, the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Belarus have been well maintained. The export potential between the two countries remains considerable, as the total bilateral trade turnover in 2024 was only around USD 60 million.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) proposed that Belarus would facilitate Vietnamese seafood enterprises in gaining export approval to the Eurasian Economic Union.

According to Mr. Pham Van Duy, Deputy Director General of the Department of Quality, Processing, and Market Development (MAE): "Currently, we have approximately 900 enterprises qualified to export seafood to the global market. However, only 53 Vietnamese seafood processing facilities are permitted to export to the Eurasian Economic Union, including Belarus."

To enhance import-export activities between the two countries, Mr. Duy suggested regularly updating documents and standards on the quality of agricultural, forestry, and seafood exports between Vietnam and Belarus. In the coming period, Vietnam - Belarus should also maintain flexible and direct coordination between specialized agencies of their respective Ministries to support businesses.

Mr. Ivan Smilgin, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of Belarus, said that this was the second time he had welcomed Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien at the newly restructured Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. He expressed his belief that the opening of the market between the two countries is achieving positive results, creating more momentum to promote bilateral trade cooperation.

He also informed about the preliminary agreement on veterinary certification, putting enterprises of Belarus on the list of eligible beef exporters to Vietnam. Deputy Minister Ivan Smilgin affirmd that Belarus will prioritize processing applications for seafood imports from Vietnam if it receives an official proposal from MAE.

Deputy Minister Ivan Smilgin added that he was also very grateful to Vietnam for sending a delegation to participate in the Vietnam Expo in Hanoi (opening on April 2, 2025). He emphasized that this participation would strengthen bilateral relations and promote trade between businesses, so that the relationship between the two countries will become more and more substantive and effective.

He welcomed both sides to regularly organize agricultural working groups to promote cooperation and address technical issues in a timely manner, identify large trading companies that serve as key intermediaries for connecting the import and export of these agricultural products.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides agreed on the export priority order, starting with beef, followed by consideration of pork and chicken exports from Belarus to Vietnam. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine will soon finalize the veterinary quarantine certificate for beef to facilitate Belarusian exports to Vietnam in 2025.

Vietnam exports key agricultural products to Belarus, including seafood, rice, cassava, cashew nuts, and tea. Additionally, other products such as tropical fruits, vegetables, and coffee are being actively promoted for export. In return, Vietnam primarily imports fertilizers from Belarus.

MAE has granted permission for Belarus to export milk and dairy products and is currently reviewing the import application for meat products.