Introducing high-quality Vietnamese aquatic products at Vietfish 2023

In her opening remarks at Vietfish 2023, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thu Sac, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), highlighted that Vietfish stands as the largest fisheries exhibition in Vietnam and has gained international prominence.

Over time, Vietfish has truly evolved into a traditional event in the seafood industry, serving as a gathering place for experts across the entire seafood value chain-from feed, seedlings, aquaculture, processing, export, to auxiliary units. Vietfish presents an opportunity to meet, strengthen collaborative relationships, introduce new products to customers, and also offers businesses the chance to access advanced technologies and modern services, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the seafood value chain.

Through its 24 editions, Vietfish 2023 continues to garner attention and participation from both domestic and international enterprises, bringing together over 220 companies with more than 420 booths from Vietnam, as well as 14 countries and territories including China, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Myanmar, Singapore, Taiwan, Philippines, Japan, Belgium, the United States, the Netherlands, and Australia.

Under the theme "Quality Connected Destination," VASEP aims to use Vietfish 2023 as a platform to introduce high-quality, diverse, and convenient seafood products to international customers.

Mrs. Sac affirmed, "Vietnamese seafood will embrace quality as a standard to create differentiation and competitive advantage. Quality goes beyond processing. It's the close connection of all aspects within the supply chain, meeting the highest global standards in terms of food safety, environment, and social responsibility."

Speaking at the opening ceremony of Vietfish 2023, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien praised VASEP for its commendable efforts in successfully organizing a large-scale exhibition like Vietfish amid the current challenging export landscape. The Deputy Minister emphasized, "I am confident that through Vietfish 2023, VASEP and businesses will establish connections with numerous partners and clients, thereby maintaining our position as the world's third-largest seafood exporter."

The Vietfish Seafood Exhibition is a professionally-driven commercial event of significant scale in the Vietnamese seafood industry, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). Under the theme "Quality Connected Destination," Vietfish 2023 will build upon the successes of previous years, continuing to affirm that quality is the measure of Vietnam's seafood value on the global market, while also enhancing the proportion of value-added, diverse, and convenient processed products. Quality is not only focused on processing but also on the close linkage of all stages within the supply chain, adhering to the world's highest standards in terms of food safety, environment, and social responsibility.

Consumer trends have been rapidly evolving post-Covid-19 pandemic and global economic downturn, leading to a decrease in overall demand and a significant drop in export value of Vietnam's key seafood products. Meanwhile, domestic seafood consumption is on the rise, and Vietnam has become a potential market for seafood-exporting powerhouses like Norway, Canada, and the United States.

Estimates suggest that with a population of 100 million people and a seafood consumption rate of 37kg per person per year, placing it among the top in the world, Vietnam's market growth rate is currently the highest in the Southeast Asia region. As a result, from late 2022 until now, these countries have been consistently organizing trade promotion activities and investment cooperation initiatives in Vietnam.

Furthermore, the trend of shifting consumer preferences toward canned, processed, dried, and frozen food products is undergoing significant changes, particularly in major cities where the young demographic is the target audience. This has been driving exhibitions like Vietfish to focus on promoting and introducing convenient, delicious, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly products to the domestic customer base in recent years.

This domestic surge in seafood consumption has not gone unnoticed by global seafood-exporting powerhouses. Countries with well-established seafood industries, such as Norway, Canada, and the United States, have identified Vietnam as a potential emerging market. The nation's population of approximately 100 million, coupled with its growing middle class and changing dietary preferences, has positioned it as an attractive destination for these international seafood producers. This strategic shift in focus reflects the acknowledgment of the Vietnamese market's untapped potential and the pursuit of long-term growth opportunities.

In light of these dynamic changes, exhibitions like Vietfish play an instrumental role in navigating the evolving seafood landscape. These platforms not only facilitate international trade but also serve as incubators for innovation and adaptation. By showcasing a diverse array of seafood products, including those that cater to changing consumer preferences such as convenience, nutritional value, and sustainability, these exhibitions contribute to shaping the future of the seafood industry. As global and local seafood stakeholders converge at events like Vietfish, the exchange of ideas, technology, and best practices fosters a collaborative environment that aligns with the evolving needs of the market.