Vietnamese tea sector will export 117,000 tons of tea with expected revenue of US$167 million in 2009, up 13.6 per cent against previous year, the Ministry of Industry and Trade reported, citing the Vietnam Tea Association (Vitas).
At a conference in Hanoi on January 6, Vitas delegates said that the sector will have to work hard to meet the ambitious target, as producers of other agricultural staples have targets set lower than in 2008 due to economic difficulties.
Nguyen Thanh Bien, deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, suggested that the sector increase product quality and pay attention to the application of food hygiene and safety regulations, considering this an important task to carve out a market niche in the world.
He said the sector should explore new markets in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Saudi Arabia, besides maintaining traditional markets, including Iraq.
Vitas President Nguyen Kim Phong said that the sector will continue to modernize its processing technology, increase quality and productivity and run courses on tea farming for growers.
Currently, 35 provinces are growing tea on a total area of 131,500 hectares to supply fresh buds to 700 processing plants across the country.
So far Vietnamese tea products have been exported to more than 110 countries and territories. The famous brand “CheViet” has been registered for trademark protection in 70 countries.
Vietnam is the world’s 5th largest tea producer in terms of volume and export value. In 2008, the country shipped 104,000 tons abroad and earned US$147 million, up 12.4 per cent from a year earlier. (Vinanet, VOV)
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