The Prime Minister has just approved the Plan on development of the seafood processing industry for the 2021-2030 period to strive to turn Vietnam into a seafood processing center and be one of the world's top five seafood processing countries by 2030.

The plan strives for the growth rate of processed seafood production to reach over 6%/year by 2030. The proportion of export value of value-added processed seafood products to reach an average of over 40% (in which shrimp reach 60%, pangasius reach 10%, tuna 70%, squid and octopus reach 30%, other aquatic products reach 30%).

Over 70% of seafood processing facilities for export will achieve the level and capacity of production technology of intermediate-advanced level or higher.

The formation of a number of corporations, modern seafood processing enterprises, with economic potential and management level at the world level.

The value of seafood processing for domestic consumption to reach VND 40,000 - 45,000 billion, contributing to the value of seafood export turnover of about USD 14-6 billion.

To achieve the above objectives, the Plan sets out necessary tasks, such as organizing the control and development of raw materials for seafood product processing from farming, mining and importing to meet the needs of consumers, processing enterprises, suitable for domestic consumption and export demand; comply with the conditions and regulations of Vietnam and international practices; ensure the requirements of traceability, avoid origin fraud, trade fraud.

Attract investment to form large seafood processing corporations and companies with economic potential and world-class management level; upgrade seafood processing facilities for export to the level and capacity of advanced production technology; improve processing capacity and technological level for domestic seafood processing and consumption facilities, ensure food hygiene and safety conditions, diversify types of seafood processing products.

Step up the processing of products with high added value, focusing on key product groups (shrimp, pangasius, tuna); diversify processed products, focus on research and development of products from tuna, seaweed and by-products; extraction of biologically active compounds of high value for the food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

Kylie Nguyen