Conference seeks ways to promote lychee consumption

BẮC GIANG — More than 2,300 people attended a teleconference on Saturday promoting lychee consumption at home and abroad held in the northern province of Bắc Giang.

Packaging lychee at a trading centre in Lục Ngạn District, Bắc Giang Province. Up to 15,000ha of lychee have met VietGAP standards while 218ha satisfy GlobalGAP standards. — VNA/VNS Photo Vũ Sinh

The event was co-organised by the People’s Committee of Bắc Giang Province, the ministries of Industry and Trade, and Agriculture and Rural Development.

The conference linked Bắc Giang with 61 sites in cities and provinces across the country, and four locations in China.

During his visit to Bắc Giang, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc cut the ribbon for the first trucks of lychee to be delivered to the domestic and foreign markets.

Speaking at the online meeting, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Lại Thanh Sơn said with a total area of 28,000ha, Bắc Giang harvests 150,000-200,000 tonnes of the fruit each year. This year’s output is estimated at 160,000 tonnes.

Up to 15,000ha of lychee have met VietGAP standards while 218ha satisfy GlobalGAP standards, he said, stressing that Japan has issued 19 lychee growing area codes and China granted 149 lychee growing area codes and certified 288 packaging facilities in Bắc Giang.

Bắc Giang plans to sell half of the lychee domestically and the rest for export, according to the official.

Sơn expressed his hopes to welcome more domestic and foreign businesses and traders, pledging that Bắc Giang will facilitate lychee growing, harvest and consumption.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Lê Quốc Doanh said Bắc Giang has paid more attention to good agricultural practice and food safety. Therefore, its lychee has conquered picky markets and Bắc Giang lychee brand name has been protected in eight countries.

A Chinese businessman told the conference that Bắc Giang lychee is now famous in China and favoured by consumers in that country thanks to its good quality. 

Other delegates at the meeting suggested the border provinces of Lào Cai and Lạng Sơn co-ordinate with Chinese authorities to facilitate lychee export, especially in terms of administrative, quarantine and customs procedures.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Đỗ Thắng Hải said his ministry will work with overseas Vietnamese agencies and instruct commercial affairs offices abroad, particularly those in China, Singapore, Australia and Japan, to promote lychee and boost connectivity in lychee export.