Hanoi (VNA) – The central provinceof Thanh Hoa is carrying out various measures to improve the quality of its farmproduce to meet requirements of export markets, thus tapping advantages fromfree trade agreements (FTA) that Vietnam has signed.

According to the provincialDepartment of Industry and Trade, the FTAs have brought about greatopportunities for agricultural products of Vietnam and Thanh Hoa in particular.

At the same time, after fluctuationsin export markets due to the COVID-19 pandemic, local businesses have defined orientationsin their export activities.

Statistics from the department showed that in the first three months of2021, Thanh Hoa earned 4.3 million USD from exporting food and farm produce, arise of 19 percent year on year, along with 21.3 million USD from aquaticproducts, up 10.4 percent over the same period last year.

The department attributed the growth to the confusion of localexporters amid the complicated development of COVID-19 in the first quarter of2020, which was solved in the same period this year. However, the growth is apositive sign showing the stability in farm produce export of the province inthe context of COVID-19 pandemic’s complicated developments that have forcedborder gates to limited operations.

However, experts held that in order to meet standards and overcometechnical barriers in export markets, Thanh Hoa should make new breakthroughs inproduction scale and production process, while giving adequate investment inprocessing activities to enhance farm produce’s values in the market.

A representative from the Import and Export Management Division under the provincial Department of Trade and Industry said that in order to remove difficulties facing local exporters, it has supported them in implementing recommendations from the Ministryof Industry and Trade and authorised agencies in border gates to regulate theshipping of goods to border gates, thus avoiding the overloading situation.

Besides, the division has assisted the firms in conducting tradepromotion activities in foreign markets, thus seeking new markets and expanding exportsthrough official channels, said the representative.

The representative held that currently, local farm produce has becomecompetitive enough to reach choosy markets such as Japan, the US and EUcountries. With a diversity in weather conditions and terrains, the province has advantages in agricultural production with diverse products and high development potentialin export.

However, local exporters pointed out that agricultural productionregions in Thanh Hoa have been small in scale with unequal quality of products.At the same time, agricultural production has yet to follow planning, making itdifficult for management and infrastructure development. The production crophas yet to be regulated properly, leading to the unstable supply and preventingthe application of science and technology, causing the increase in cost anddifficulties in quality, food safety and disease management, they said.

Recognising the problems, the province has planned to organiseproduction following market demand, while focusing on ensuring safe productionprocess to enhance competitiveness.

Local businesses are advised to continue coordinating closely togetherin popularising regulations in origin traceability and labeling as well as in relevantmatters to production regions, thus enhancing the quality of products andmeeting standards of targeted markets.

In a long term, Thanh Hoa will give directions and guidelines to localfarmers and production facilities on how to produce goods in line with the market's demand and conduct production process towards VietGap and safe standards, thusimproving competitiveness of their products.

Meanwhile, the province will also implement technical solutions incultivation to reduce cost, especially by applying technologies in producing,processing and storing products, thus conquering most choosy markets, diversifying markets and enhancing the valueand efficiency of production activities./.