HCM City (VNA) – Over 350 enterprises frommore than 30 countries and territories joined Vietnam’s Premier InternationalFeed, Livestock, Aquaculture & Meat Industry Show (Vietstock) Expo &Forum 2023 that opened at Saigon Exhibit✃ion and Convention Centre (SECC) inHo Chi Minh City on October 11.

The three-day event, co-organised by the Department of LivestockProduction under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and InformaMarkets, is expected to attract over 11,000 visitors. Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment Phung Duc Tien said that over the years, livestock has alwaysplayed an important role in maintaining the growth of Vietnam’s agriculture.Over the past ten years, the livestock industry maintained an annual growth of5-7%, the output of all types of meat increased 1.8 times, eggs increased 2.9times, and fresh milk 3.7 times. In 2022 alone, livestock production reached 23.7 billion USD,accounting for nearly 27% of agricultural production and 5.8% of total nationalGDP. In particular, the sector created a livelihood for more than 10 millionrural workers, ensuring food supply for 100 million people and millions oftourists, and Vietnam has begun to export its livestock products. In the first nine months of 2023, the export value of livestockproducts reached 369 million USD, an increase of 26.4% over the same periodlast year. Tien said that in the context of rapid global population growthand increasing demand for food both in terms of quantity and quality,developing effective sustainable livestock production to meet the demand is anissue that the Vietnamese Government has supported and paid much attention. However, Vietnam’s livestock industry still faces challenges, including its reliance on imported input materials, impact of climate change,and diseases, he said. “International integration in economics and livestock technologyis an important factor to improve productivity, quality, and efficiency of thelivestock industry,” Tien said, adding that creating a favourable environmentto encourage investment, research, development, and technology transfer in thelivestock sector is essential. He also said that to achieve those goals, close cooperation isneeded between relevant parties, state management agencies, businesses,researchers and farmers. Vietstock 2023 not only provides an opportunity to display andintroduces advanced products and technologies but also creates favourableconditions for stakeholders, businesses, researchers, and experts in theindustry to exchange, learn and share experience. Within the framework of Vietstock 2023, Vietstock Awards2023 is endorsed by the Department of Livestock Production under the Ministryof Agriculture and Rural Development and will present 18 awards in thelivestock field and seven awards in the aquaculture sector. The awards honour domestic and foreign businesses that have madeoutstanding contributions to the Vietnamese livestock industry. VietstockAwards 2023 winners will be announced on the evening of October 11./.