There will be the largest wholesale seafood market in Nghe An.

The People's Committee of Quynh Luu district has recently drafted a plan for the construction of a wholesale seafood market in the district. According to the plan, the district will select a location from among the communes of Quynh Thuan (5 ha); Tien Thuy (3 ha); and Quynh Nghia (3 ha).

To build the wholesale market, the District People's Committee has a plan to use budget funds or a combination of the main investor and private investors in the form of a public-private partnership. The project is expected to be implemented from 2019 to 2021 with items such as site selection, planning amendments; construction implementation, etc.

Quynh Luu district has over 1,200 fishing vessels, catching more than 62,000 tons of seafood annually. Photo: Viet Hung

Quynh Luu is the district with the largest seafood exploitation industry in the province, with over 1,200 fishing vessels; the catch volume reaches over 62,000 tons per year. In addition, the local aquaculture industry is also diverse, with many species raised such as shrimp, clams, crabs, freshwater fish, etc., yielding over 11,000 tons per year.

In reality, there is no centralized seafood market in the district. Most seafood is purchased by small-scale traders at the fishing port when boats return or from ponds and lakes, then transported to markets within and outside the district for distribution. Most rural markets in the area are small and scattered, with many poorly planned and encroaching on traffic lanes; and, most importantly, they do not ensure food safety and hygiene.

In Quynh Luu district, there are 28 commune markets, 4 regional markets, 1 commercial center, and a number of informal markets... However, most commune markets are small-scale and do not guarantee food safety and hygiene. Photo: Viet Hung

If wholesale markets are built soon, they will play a crucial role in attracting and concentrating large quantities of goods for further distribution to local markets and other distribution channels.

Moreover, the wholesale market serves as a consumption channel, connecting production with distribution and consumption; contributing to the promotion of fisheries production and creating positive changes in rural trade activities. At the same time, it awakens the potential of Quynh Luu's fisheries, attracting fishing vessels, small traders, and buyers for processing businesses, drawing significant attention from the seafood processing industry. This also enhances the competitiveness of businesses, creates jobs for many workers, and, importantly, ensures food safety and hygiene through the control of relevant authorities.