Binh Thuan expects support for the consumption of dragon fruit and watermelon

The Binh Thuan Department of Industry and Trade has sent a document to the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Agency of Foreign Trade (AFT) asking for support with dragon fruit and watermelon consumption and exports.

According to the department, dragon fruit and watermelon have entered the region's harvest crops due to their high yield. From now until March 2022, about 19,350 acres of dragon fruit land will produce around 236,780 tons of fruits.

Three key dates to note include January 15-30, 2022, when output is predicted to reach 106,551 tons; February 9-14, when output is likely to reach 59,195 tons; and March 10-20, when output is expected to reach 71,034 tons.

Additionally, the province has around 255 hectares of watermelon, mostly in the districts of Ham Thuan Bac, Ham Thuan Nam, and Duc Linh, which will be harvested for Tet 2022 consumption, with a projected yield of 300 tons.

To enhance trade promotion efforts and promote dragon fruit and watermelon production businesses and facilities in Binh Thuan, the department of Binh Thuan requested AFT's assistance in connecting consumption, seeking clients, and scaling up the market.

According to the Binh Thuan Department of Industry and Trade, the Binh Thuan dragon fruit has been registered for geographical indication protection in several nations worldwide, most recently in Japan. This gives Binh Thuan dragon fruit a competitive edge in these markets.

As a result, the Department of Industry and Trade suggests that AFT identify and introduce importers and distributors in foreign nations so that the province's dragon fruit exporters may make contact with and enter this market.

Additionally, the province anticipates that AFT will assist businesses in participating in international trade promotion programs and food specialized workshops; exhibiting and promoting Binh Thuan dragon fruit products, such as dried dragon fruit, dragon fruit candy, dragon fruit snack, and dragon fruit juice; as well as providing materials to introduce and promote the locality, enterprises, and Binh Thuan dragon fruit products in the Vietnamese pavilion at the international trade show.

Continue to provide market information, pricing, legal policies, technical barriers to trade, recommendations from the stages of cultivation, handling, preservation, transportation, and export to ensure the freshness and quality of products, as well as market development experience to assist industry associations and businesses in Binh Thuan province in identifying partners to develop, expand markets, and promote export activities.

Apart from the AFT-Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Binh Thuan Department of Industry and Trade also sent documents to the Departments of Industry and Trade of other provinces and cities; the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy; the Department of Trade Promotion; the Domestic Market Department; and enterprises with e-commerce platforms such as Sen Do Technology Joint Stock Company, Viettel Post Corporation, Vietnam Post Corporation, Recess Co., Ltd, Shopee Co., Ltd, TI KIJoint Stock Company to ask for support the consumption of dragon fruit and watermelon in Binh Thuan province.