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Ninh Thuận has advantages in agriculture, especially grape production. — Photo plo.vn

​NINH THUẬN — The mountainous province of Ninh Thuận has many natural advantages for producing and exporting high quality agricultural products to Korea, experts have said.

According to Trinh Minh Hoàng, deputy chairman of its People’s Committee, the south-central region has a favourable location, with rail, road, airline, and sea routes connecting both domestic and foreign key economic zones.

Ninh Thuận’s weather, soil, sunshine, and wind allow it to make specialty products whose quality is distinctive among that of other provinces, including grape, apple, garlic, aloe vera, and lamb and goat meat.

The province has created 36 large farms for rice, grape, shallot, and other crops adding up to over 5,000ha in size, and issued 35 farming area codes for traceability.

Many farms are also applying modern technologies and adhering to global best practices. Crops are also processed into a wide variety of high-value products such as dried fruits, wine and jam.

Currently it has around 182 products recognised under the One Commune One Product (3 stars and above). These are highly competitive products that Ninh Thuận is focusing on, developing their value chains and exports, and promoting them through tourism.

The province is also building brands for speciality crops, such as the hugely popular Phan Rang garlic.

Ninh Thuận businesses have been investing in modern processing technologies and creating value chains. The province also has strengths in renewable energy, hi-tech agriculture, processing, and the maritime economy.

A Ninh Thuận business and a Korean counterpart tie up for supply of agricultural produce as part of a networking conference held last week between businesses in the south-central region with their Korean counterparts. — VNA/VNS Photo

​Korea is currently Việt Nam’s second largest buyer of fruits and vegetables after China, indicating great potential for produce exports.

In the first half of the year Korea imported over US$164 million worth of fruits and vegetables from Việt Nam, up 55 per cent year-on-year.

Trần Hải Linh, chairman of the Vietnam – Korea Businessmen & Investment Association, said that Korea was one of the few countries to have many bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements with Việt Nam, like the ASEAN – Korea FTA, Việt Nam – Korea FTA, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Vietnamese goods could access Korea with favourable tariffs, meaning high quality Ninh Thuận products could share the same benefit.

Last week the province worked with the association to organise a trade and export networking conference for 54 businesses and co-operative groups in the south-central region with 38 Korean firms.

At the conference Korean firms connected with local business partners, and spoke highly of Ninh Thuận’s potential, strengths and policies.

Jeon Do Hyun, general director of Osan Logistics Co. Ltd, commended Ninh Thuận’s proactiveness and local businesses’ eagerness to network, and hoped for more similar events for both countries’ businesses to trade with each other.

Linh said the conference provided business to business, business to consumer and business to government meeting opportunities for companies from the two countries.

His association would always help businesses to network and tackle difficulties to facilitate trade and bi-lateral co-operation, he said.

Companies from the two countries signed 18 memorandums of understanding for co-operation related mainly to agricultural produce such as grapes, apples and aloe vera. - VNS

Korean businesses were introduced to Ninh Thuận items certified under the One Commune One Product programme. — Photo plo.vn