Prime Minister chairs conference to remove difficulties, promote production and export of forestry and aquatic products

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a working conference with the Vietnam Timber and Forest Products Association and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processors and Exporters to remove difficulties and promote production and exports. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Attending the conference were Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan, leaders of ministries, branches, central agencies, representatives of international organizations, associations, and enterprises producing and exporting wood, forestry and aquatic products.

Over the years, the wood processing and export industry, forestry products and fisheries industry of our country have always received the attention and direction of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has attended and chaired many conferences of the agricultural sector in general and the forestry and fisheries sector in particular.

The wood processing, forestry and seafood export industry of our country has become a key export industry, a bright spot of the agricultural sector and one of the few industries that bring in a high trade surplus of over 10 billion USD; making a great contribution to the socio-economic development, hunger eradication and poverty reduction of the country in general and the development of the agricultural sector in particular.

According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in 2022, wood and forestry product exports are estimated to reach 17.1 billion USD, exceeding the plan by 3.8%; this industry also sets an export target of 17.5 billion USD in 2023. Seafood export turnover in 2022 reached 11 billion USD, up 23.8% over the same period in 2021 and up 22.2% compared to the plan (9 billion USD), the highest ever; the industry's planned target for 2023 is about 10 billion USD.

However, in the first three months of 2023, the total export and import turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products is estimated at 20.63 billion USD, down 11.2% over the same period last year. Of which, exports are estimated at 11.19 billion USD, down 14.4%; imports are estimated at 9.44 billion USD, down 7.2%; trade surplus is 1.76 billion USD, down 39.6% over the same period in 2022...

The forestry and fishery sectors have declined in both output and export value. In the first quarter of 2023, wood and forestry exports decreased by over 28%, fishery exports decreased by over 27%, some major markets such as the US saw wood exports decrease by 37%, fishery exports decreased by up to 50%; the number of orders decreased sharply, businesses had to limit production, greatly affecting production and business, affecting the lives of nearly ten million workers.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh thanked and appreciated the business community in general and wood, forestry and fishery enterprises in particular for accompanying the country and people in preventing and fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing to consolidating, strengthening and promoting the great national unity bloc to cope with unprecedented difficulties and challenges, in the context of limited resources, limited resilience to external shocks, and dual impacts from inside and outside.

The results and achievements of enterprises in the wood, forestry and fishery sectors have contributed to the country's overall achievements in 2022, notably promoting growth, creating jobs and livelihoods for people, building an independent and self-reliant economy associated with proactive and active international integration, deeply, substantially and effectively.

The Prime Minister asked delegates to focus on discussions to find good solutions and new ways of doing things. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

In 2023, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic need to continue to be overcome; the export market is narrowed due to reduced aggregate demand; strategic competition between major countries continues to be fierce; prices of many goods, raw materials, and materials fluctuate, especially gasoline and oil; many countries adjust their macroeconomic and monetary management policies, some major banks go bankrupt and collapse... Domestically, we must continue to deal with internal economic problems, many backlogs, and prolonged work.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need to remain calm and steadfast in basic goals and principles, but flexible in management and implementation; identify the situation to overcome difficulties and challenges; and find appropriate solutions.

This conference was held following many conferences chaired by the Prime Minister in recent times to resolutely remove difficulties and obstacles for production and business, support businesses and people to reduce cost pressure, promote production, promote growth, create jobs and livelihoods for people.

The Prime Minister asked delegates to focus on discussions to find good solutions and new ways to adapt to the domestic, regional and international market situation, and to specify what the subjects (Government, ministries, branches, localities, associations, enterprises, etc.) need to do to promote sustainable development of production, processing and export of forest products, ensuring domestic consumption and export.

The Government Electronic Information Portal will continue to update information about the conference./.