Bac Giang (VNA) – The People’s Committee of northernBac Giang province in coordination with the Ministries of Industry and Trade,and Agriculture and Rural Development organised a teleconference on promotinglychee consumption at home and abroad on June 6.

The conference linked Bac Giang with 61 sites incities and provinces across the country, and four sites in China, with morethan 2,300 participants.

During his visit to Bac Giang, Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc cut the ribbon for the first trucks of lychee to be delivered to thedomestic and foreign markets.

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

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

Bac Giang plans to sell half of the lychee in the domestic market and the rest for export, according to the official.

Son expressed his hope to welcome more domestic and foreignbusinesses and traders, pledging that Bac Giang will facilitate lychee growing,harvest and consumption.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentLe Quoc Doanh said Bac Giang has paid more attention to good agriculturalpractice and food safety. Therefore, its lychee has conquered picky markets andBac Giang lychee brand name has been protected in eight countries.

A Chinese businessman told the conference that BacGiang lychee is now famous in China and favoured by consumers in that country thanks toits good quality.  

Other delegates at the meeting suggested the borderprovinces of Lao Cai and Lang Son coordinate with Chinese authorities tofacilitate lychee export, especially in terms of administrative, quarantine andcustoms procedures.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Haisaid his ministry will join hands with overseas Vietnamese agencies andinstruct commercial affairs offices abroad, particularly those in China, Singapore,Australia and Japan, to promote lychee and boost connectivity in lycheeexport./.