HCM City to host agriculture market seminar

Hanoi (VNA) - A seminar on market prospects for Vietnam 's agriculture sector in 2009 will be held in HCM City later this month, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) has revealed.

The symposium, jointly held by the VCCI, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation
and the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural
Development (IPSARD) will focus on three key farm and fisheries products in the
Mekong Delta.

Participants will discuss information and policy, as well as forecast prospects
for the agriculture sector.

Economic experts have reported a series of weaknesses in market forecasts and
management organisations due to the consequences of market mechanisms implemented
after Vietnam became a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The supply of aquatic products, rice, coffee, pepper and cashew nuts, all of which
are high-demand products, greatly fluctuates from surplus to shortage. As a
result, the State and investors face many difficulties when investing in
processing factories and large production zones.

These weaknesses threaten agriculture production growth and challenge
socio-economic stability.-Enditem