Thủ tướng: Sẽ gỡ vốn, tìm thị trường cho xuất khẩu gỗ, thuỷ sản

In order to promote production and create livelihoods for tens of millions of workers in the forestry and fishery industry, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said he would remove difficulties in markets, institutions and capital.

On the morning of April 13, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a meeting to work with the Wood and Forest Products Association and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers to remove difficulties and promote the production and export of forest products and services. Seafood.

The meeting took place in the context that the forestry and fishery sectors are facing a decrease in output and export value. In the first three months of this year, exports of wood and forest products fell by more than 28% and seafood by more than 27%.

Faced with the difficulties of two commodity industries that create an export surplus value of tens of billions of dollars a year, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that the State will remove difficulties, especially in terms of markets, institutions, capital for production, etc. processing and exporting forestry - fishery products. This is to promote production and business, create livelihoods and incomes for nearly tens of millions of employees.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a conference to remove difficulties for the forestry - fishery industry, on April 13. Photo: VGP

He asked all levels to reduce administrative procedures, create an open business environment; building strategic infrastructure, especially the expressway system to reduce logistics costs for businesses.

While the export market is shrinking, ministries and branches support enterprises to exploit the domestic consumer market of 100 million people; seek and expand new export markets by taking advantage of free trade agreements (FTAs).

Together with the State, enterprises in the wood and fishery industry seek new ways of doing things, saving themselves, promoting production and business, and expanding markets.

"Instead of only processing to order, businesses must diversify products, develop sustainable sources of raw materials and fuel, and take measures to combat origin fraud and illegal transshipment," the Prime Minister stated. , and believes that this is a key factor for the sustainable development of the timber and fishery industry when favorable market factors return.

Production, processing and export of forest and aquatic products along with other agricultural sectors are the backbone of the economy. The export turnover of these two fields accounts for nearly 54% of the total export turnover of agriculture.

In general, the import and export turnover of wood and fishery products reached more than 26 billion USD, down 11.2% over the same period, according to the data of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Traditional export markets were all affected in the first quarter. For example, the US halved the amount of seafood imported from Vietnam, and furniture by 37%. Orders dropped sharply, export markets narrowed due to reduced demand, causing wood and seafood enterprises to produce in moderation.

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to promote new markets for forestry and fishery exports. The ministry also needs to promote solutions to overcome the EU's "yellow card" IUU and support to increase investment in fisheries infrastructure to meet anti-IUU fishing requirements.

"Public-private cooperation mechanisms and policies are needed to mobilize social resources," the Prime Minister said, noting that the agricultural industry has accelerated digitalization in all stages, from growing raw materials to processing and manufacturing. and export.

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Finance to remove taxes; exemption, reduction, extension, postponement, extension of taxes, fees, charges, land rents and land use fees in 2023. The Ministry of Industry and Trade develops brands, promotes investment, and expands markets; assist in lawsuits, commercial disputes. The Ministry of Planning and Investment was asked to propose policies to support the development of wood and forest product processing industrial parks, logistics services, and hi-tech application zones in forestry in association with the development of the wood and forest product processing industry. . The State Bank is directed to promote lending, provide capital, reduce borrowing costs and interest rates.

Localities have dialogues with businesses to promptly remove difficulties; adopt policies to develop and expand aquaculture and seed production areas.

The Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade have implemented a project to build brands for three key products with competitive advantages, namely shrimp and pangasius. and tuna.

Hoai Thu