Larger investments in processed technology are key to the growth of thetra fish business, the industry’s association chairman, Nguyen VietThang, proclaimed at a recent workshop in the Mekong Delta province ofCan Tho.

Thang noted that fish have long beenexported as fillets, without any value added via further processingwork. As a result, remaining fish parts such as bones, heads and skinhave been wasted and only used for livestock feeding.

Moving forward, the association aims to improve overall quality,stabilise the number of fish farms, curb uncontrolled expansion ofbreeding and provide additional financial assistance for farmers andenterprises.

Exported Tra fish fillets are sold at0.5 USD per 100 grams, while convenience products, fried fish or thosecombined with organic vegetables can earn up to 4 USD per 100 grams,according to Joerg Rosenberger, Vice Director General of the Germanaquatic processing company Nienstedt.

In 2014, Vietnam sold 1.7 billion USD worth of tra fish overseas with Germany consuming 12 percent of the total export.

Vietnam is among three major tra fish suppliers to the German market;the others are the US and China. The Southeast Asian country hold greatpotential to strengthen its foothold in Germany, said Rosenberger.

Last year, the Mekong Delta reserved 5,500 ha for farming tra fish, which turned out 1.1 million tonnes in output.

Vietnamese tra fish fillets have been shipped to 150 countries and territories across the globe.-VNA