A Vietnam Seafood Festival will be held for the first time in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho from April 24-27, with the aim of boosting cooperation and trade between domestic and foreign businesses and building Vietnam’s seafood trademark.

The Vice Chairman of the Can Tho city People’s Committee, To Minh Gioi, who is also head of the festival’s organising board, said that the festival is a large socio-economic and cultural event for the Mekong Delta in particular and the whole country in general.

It will make an important contribution to increasing the competitiveness of Vietnamese agricultural products on the world market, he said.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Luong Le Phuong, the festival aims to seek new opportunities for Vietnam’s seafood sector, especially as it is facing many challenges under the increasing competitive pressure that comes with international economic integration.

Nearly 20 economic and cultural activities will be held during the festival, including a 500-booth fair exhibiting Vietnamese seafood products. To date more than 200 businesses and localities have registered to attend the fair.

A seminar entitled “Vietnamese Seafood: Potential, Cooperation and Development” will focus on five topics, including aquatic farming in Vietnam, future offshore fishing, seafood exports, building up brand names and logistical services for the sector.

On the occasion, the organising board will present the “2009 Outstanding Vietnamese Seafood Enterprise” Award to those which have shown excellence in overcoming difficulties stemming from the global economic crisis over the past year.

Source: VOV