New farm produce

Companies permitted to issue Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices (VietGAP) certificates in Vietnam have been granting the certificates to firms that may not meet government requirements, according to a recent investigation by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. Tuoi Tre reporters recently went undercover as food producers in need of VietGAP certificates for their products. During their investigation, they visited the Ho Chi Minh City office of VietPAT Technology and Quality Announcement JSC – a Da Nang-based VietGAP company that helps obtain VietGAP certificates and certifications for organic and environmentally-friendly products. At the VietPAT office, L., a salesman for the company, told the reporters that they had to provide a business license; statistics about their farm; and samples of their soil, water, and vegetables in order to gain VietGAP certification, or the application of production methods to churn out clean and safe fruits and vegetables. “We offer a simple … [Read more...] about Exposé: Safe farm produce certificates illegally on sale in Vietnam

Pepper being cleaned by workers of Loc Quang Cooperative in Binh Phuoc Province. — VNA/VNS Photo There are great business opportunities for Vietnamese pepper exporters in the United Kingdom - a lucrative market with high demand for pepper imports. According to industry experts, local pepper exporters can also take advantage of the UK's supply shortages to increase exports of its key items such as pepper to the country as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit and the international sanctions against Russia have resulted in a supply instability and scarcity in the UK. Currently, the UK is the second-largest importer and consumer of pepper in Europe after Germany and Viet Nam's pepper exports to the UK market have surged positively in recent years. In 2020, Viet Nam shipped 5,621 tonnes of pepper to the UK, raking in US$48 million of the total 14,000 tonnes and $121 million that the UK imported. Later in 2021, the Southeast Asian pepper exports to the UK saw a significant … [Read more...] about Untapped opportunities for Vietnamese pepper exports in the UK

Illustrative image (Source: VNA) The plan aims to specify goals, tasks and solutions to realise the strategy and the national action plan for green growth. Under the plan, the ministry will work to develop the agricultural sector in an ecological, organic, circular and low-carbon direction to improve growth quality, added value, competitiveness and sustainable development, while reducing pollution in agricultural production and rural areas, and promoting energy efficiency towards carbon neutralisation by 2050. Specifically, the sector aims for 2.5-3 percent in annual growth, and 42 percent in forest coverage. It will strive to increase the use of organic fertilizers to 30 percent of all those consumed, along with 30 percent of pesticides and at least 30 percent of farm areas using water-saving systems. The sector will switch 300,000 hectares of rice to other crops with higher economic and environmental efficiency, while aiming for over 2 percent of organic farms out of the … [Read more...] about Action plan to promote green growth in agriculture

Photo: Singer Tung Duong (L) and journalist Le Xuan Thanh, head of the organising board (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnamese singer Tung Duong once again dominated the 16th Devotion Music Awards, held online in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on January 7, as he won three of the nine major categories. Specifically, Duong won “ Album of the Year ” for his progressive rock album “Human”, “Music Show of the Year” for the “Human” liveshow, and “Singer of the Year” for his powerful and energetic performance s and contributions to contemporary music. He has so far pocketed 13 prizes at the Devotion Music Awards. Photo: Singer Tung Duong performs at the awards ceremony (Photo: VietnamPlus) “Producer of the Year” went to DJ and music producer Hoang Touliver, who is Music Director of the TV reality show Rap Viet, which looks for the next best rapper in Vietnam. The show was a hit, with more than 1 million viewers tuning in to watch the finale on YouTube. Rap Viet was … [Read more...] about Divo Tung Duong wins three major prizes at 2021 Devotion Music Awards

Workers put out coffee beans to dry in a glass house in northern Son La Province — VNAVNS Photo Huu Quyet Vietnamese businesses must stay vigilant and do their homework to avoid trade and legal disputes in exporting to the UK to take full advantage of the United Kingdom-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), which officially went into effect last May, say industry experts and policymakers. The agreement was intended to provide both sides with the same trade benefits under the previously signed EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA ) as the United Kingdom has left the EU. UKVFTA aims to go even further than the EVFTA to boost trade between Viet Nam and the UK with 65 per cent of all tariffs having been removed so far. In the next six years, the agreement is to remove up to 99.2 per cent of all tariffs on Vietnamese exports, with the Southeast Asian country to remove 48.5 per cent of all tariffs on UK products in return. Early signs have shown a positive effect on bilateral … [Read more...] about Trade and legal disputes part of the game with UKVFTA