Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fishery exports reach all-time high amid pandemic
Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fishery exports reach all-time high amid pandemic
Vietnam’s value of agro-forestry-fishery exports hit a historic high of US$48.6 billion in 2021 despite the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development organized a conference on Wednesday morning to review the performance of the primary industries in 2021 and set targets for 2022.
The event was chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
In 2021, the fourth COVID-19 outbreak seriously affected the country’s import and export activities, the ministry said at the meeting.
The country has detected 1,675,321 community transmissions in all its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth virus wave erupted on April 27.
However, local exporters managed to take advantage of new free trade agreements to promote exports and make forays into new markets.
Vietnam’s exports of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products reached an all-time high of $48.6 billion this year, up 14.9 percent against 2020.
The production, transportation, processing, and distribution of agricultural products across the country were disrupted when the pandemic peaked in southern localities in this year’s third quarter, according to Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan.
However, enterprises and farming households were able to overcome these challenges in the final months of the year thanks to their quick adaptation as well as the connectivity between different industries and businesses, Hoan continued.
In 2022, the agricultural sector will focus on restructuring to increase value added, maintain sustainable development, transform growth projects, and develop advanced farming models, the minister said.
The sector will strive to achieve $49 billion worth of export turnover and a growth rate of 2.8-2.9 percent next year.
Measures must also be taken to improve farmers' income, the official stressed.
