Dong Thap exports first shipment of pomelos to Australia

DTO/NDO- The Dong Thap government, in coordination with Blue Ocean Import-Export Trading Joint Stock Company, held a ceremony on April 13 to mark the export of the first shipment of Dong Thap pomelos to Australia.

The event marks an important milestone for Viet Nam’s fruit industry as the country enters one of the world’s most demanding markets.

Speaking at the ceremony, Le Chi Thien, Deputy Director of the Dong Thap Department of Agriculture and Environment, said the province currently has around 4,364 hectares of pomelo cultivation, with an annual output exceeding 65,000 tonnes.

Dong Thap has been granted approval for 23 pomelo growing areas, comprising 31 cultivation area codes and covering a total of 470.85 hectares. Of these, 16 growing areas, encompassing 22 codes and 249.4 hectares, are authorised for export to the US and the Republic of Korea.

At present, the province has one pomelo growing area that meets the requirements for export to the Australian market.

Thien stated that, to ensure the sustainable development of the fruit sector, Dong Thap’s agricultural authorities will continue to restructure and consolidate production.

The province will also strictly manage cultivation area codes and packing facilities, ensure compliance with import market requirements, advance the use of science and technology, and improve quality, food safety and traceability.

Dong Thap Province also called on businesses to continue supporting farmers in securing stable markets for their products.

At the event, Pham Thi Ngoc Thach, Director of Blue Ocean, noted that Australia is known for its stringent regulations on plant quarantine, biosecurity, and traceability.

Following lengthy negotiations, Viet Nam and Australia officially signed an agreement in November last year allowing fresh Vietnamese pomelos to be imported into the Australian market.

Blue Ocean then completed the necessary technical procedures to meet Australia’s requirements and began commercially exporting fresh pomelos to the market.

Going forward, the company will continue to expand its internationally certified growing areas and develop additional cultivation area codes and packing facilities that meet Australia’s export requirements, in coordination with the Dong Thap Department of Agriculture and Environment.

It will also deepen partnerships with cooperatives and local farmers to ensure a stable, high-quality supply with full traceability.

(Source: NDO)