HCM City (VNA) – A workshop washeld in Ho Chi Minh City on February 28 to connect businesses that importsoybeans from Canada.

Bui Tien Toan, sales manager of Linh LongDevelopment Co., Ltd., said businesses now have multiple choices in importingsoybeans, especially from the US and Canada. 

The import is favourable as Canada’s soybeansmeet his firm’s demand on quality and quantity, while the business can enjoy tariffincentives, he said.

He added that his company imports about18,000-20,000 tonnes of soybean each year to distribute for domestic businessesto process food, including 6,000 tonnes imported from Canada.

Vo Thi Thuy Diem, sales manager of GoldenNutrition, said her company imports 500 tonnes of soybean per month, 30 percentof which are from Canada.

She said Vietbamese soybean importers needstable policies, as well as to promptly address relevant papers from Canadianexporters to maintain and develop the market.

Andrew Jones, a member of the Canadian soybeanassociation Soy Canada, said that besides taking measures to increase soybeanproductivity and quality, the association is actively campaigning for new tradeand market policies – especially for major destinations such as Japan, China,Malaysia, and Vietnam – to boost the development of Canada’s soybean sector.

Chris Forbes, Canadian Deputy Minister ofAgriculture and Agri-Food, said Canada is implementing plant examinations forquality and origin certification so as to develop the soybean sector in a newdirection, meeting the requirements of the export market.

Canada’s soybeans are sold in 71 countries, hesaid.

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement forTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) came into force in Canada from December 30,2018 and Vietnam from January 14, 2019, which will contribute to promotingtrade between the two countries, he said.

After the deal completes the tariff reductionroadmap, 94 percent of Canada’s agri-products and food will be at an advantagefor exports to Vietnam, especially aquatic products, beef, fruit, wheat,soybean, and processed food.

According to the Soy Canada association, Vietnamwas among the top 10 importers of the Canadian soybean industry in 2017,importing 123,000 tonnes of soybean worth 70 million CAD (53.1 million USD).

With its current trade promotion activities,Vietnam is likely to become one of the biggest soybean importers of Canada. –VNA