Consistent in goals and flexible in managing aquatic and forest product exportation

On April 13, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a conference to work with the Vietnam Timber & Forest Products Association (VIFOREST) and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) to remove difficulties and promote the production and export of forest and seafood products.

The conference welcomed the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan, along with leaders of ministries, branches, central agencies, representatives of international organizations, associations, and businesses producing and export of timber, forest products, and aquatic products.

Making the opening speech at the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated the business community in general and wood, forestry, and fishery businesses in particular for accompanying the country and the people in preventing the Covid-19 pandemic, contributing to consolidating, strengthening and promoting the great unity bloc of the whole nation to cope with enormous and unprecedented difficulties and challenges. It is even more commendable in the context of limited resources, low resistance to shocks from the outside, and Vietnam being subjected to double impact from inside and outside.

The results and achievements of businesses in timber, forest products, and fisheries have contributed to the country's overall achievements in 2022, notably promoting growth, and creating jobs and livelihoods for people, building an independent and self-reliant economy associated with proactive and active international integration, extensive, substantive, and practical.

"We still need to overcome the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2023. The export market is narrowed due to a decrease in aggregate demand. Strategic competition among major countries continues to be fierce. Prices of many commodities and raw materials fluctuate, especially gasoline. Many countries have adjusted their macroeconomic and monetary management policies, some large banks have gone bankrupt or collapsed. Considering the country's current state, we must continue to deal with the internal problems of the economy," said Prime MInister Pham Minh Chinh.

The Prime Minister said that it was considered necessary to be calm and steadfast in the goals and basic principles but be flexible in operating and organizing the implementation, identify the situation and find the right solution to overcome difficulties and challenges.

This event was held in continuation of many conferences chaired by the Prime Minister. Its ultimate goal is to drastically remove difficulties and obstacles for production and business, support businesses and people to reduce cost pressure, promote production, promote growth, and create jobs and livelihoods for people.

In recent years, the Prime Minister has always paid close attention and directed the country's wood processing and export industry as well as the forest and fishery product industries. The Prime Minister attended and chaired many conferences of the agricultural sector in general and the forestry and fishery industry in particular.

Wood, forestry, and fishery product export have become a key export industry, a bright spot in the agricultural industry. It is one of the few industries with a high trade surplus of over US$ 10 billion, making significant contributions to the country's socioeconomic development, hunger eradication, poverty alleviation, and the development of the agricultural sector.

In 2022, the export of wood and forest products was at US$ 17.1 billion, exceeding 3.8% of the plan. This industry also sets an export target of US$ 17.5 billion in 2023. Seafood export turnover in 2022 reached US$ 11 billion, up 23.8% over the same period in 2021 and 22.2% higher than the plan (US$ 9 billion), the highest ever. The industry's target in 2023 is about US$ 10 billion.

However, in the first three months of 2023, agro-forestry-fishery products' total export and import turnover was estimated at US$ 20.63 billion, down 11.2% over the same period last year. Export is estimated at US$ 11.19 billion, down 14.4%; import was estimated at US$ 9.44 billion, down 7.2%; trade surplus of US$ 1.76 billion, down 39.6% over the same period in 2022.

Forestry and fishery products have decreased in both output and export value. In the first quarter of 2023, exports of wood and forest products decreased by over 28%. Seafood decreased by over 27%, some major markets, such as the US wood exports, fell by 37%, and seafood decreased by 50%. The number of orders dropped sharply, and businesses had to produce in moderation, significantly affecting production and trade and the lives of nearly tens of millions of workers.