This is the motto of Vietnam Fisheries Festival held for the first time in Can Tho City. Vietnam Business Forum was granted an exclusive interview with Mr To Minh Gioi, Chief of the Festival Organizing Board and Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee.
How have you prepared for the first Fisheries Festival?
To date, preparatory works have basically completed. We have established the festival steering committee with Can Tho City’s People’s Committee Chairman holding the presidency, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism being vice presidents, and leaders of Mekong Delta provinces being members. The steering board has nine subcommittees. At present, over 200 enterprises from 20 provinces and cities have registered to showcase their products and services from more than 450 booths. This is a large-scale festival but it is not funded by the State Budget, instead it is financed by participating seafood enterprises as well as leading corporations in the country like Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank), Joint Stock Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank), the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) and many other joint stock banks.
This festival is very unique and international. We have sent invitations to foreign consulates, Vietnamese aquatic product importers and other entities to attend the event. We have opened a press centre funded by VNPT Group. At present, we are advertizing for the Can Tho festival in many provinces and cities with fishing activities, six coastal central provinces, Hai Phong, Hanoi, Quang Ninh and others.
People are beginning to recognize fisheries, like other industries, as a traditional exporter as well as a high potential sector for the future. What do you think about this?
The fisheries sector has played an active role in national economic development and the Government has developed a long-term sector development strategy. This festival will confirm the potential strength of the fisheries sector in Mekong Delta in particular and Vietnam in general. It will also promote training and planning for the sector, encouraging and supporting fishermen and export processing enterprises to further develop the fisheries industry.
Within the framework of the festival, we will honor exemplary businesses which contribute to the development of Vietnamese fisheries sector. The “Vietnam Outstanding Seafood Enterprise Award 2009” will be presented to high performing aquatic enterprises which overcame difficulties triggered by the global economic crisis, actively sought and exploited new export markets, maintained trade promotion activities, fulfilled tax obligations and boldly applied advanced international standard and environment-friendly technologies.
At present, many fishermen lack long-term development strategies. They will dig ponds to raise fish when the price goes up and retreat to other businesses when the price drops. How have local authorities dealt with this?
This is an important part of a scientific conference offered for farmers, fishermen, scientists, businesses, financial companies and banks. The workshop will discuss issues such as the market-based sector development orientation and the State role in regional material planning for processing and exporting demands.
Self-discipline will be discussed, key to maintaining momentum for proper development. Regarding Can Tho, we will zone specific areas for the long-term development of aquaculture and processing. The old farming habits of local farmers and fishermen cannot guarantee sustainable development.
Vietnamese
