Attending the conference were Mr. Tran Duy Tam Thanh - Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of BR-VT province, Deputy Head of the Competition Organizing Committee; Ms. Pham Thi Na - Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of BR-VT province; with the participation of management agencies, scientists, businesses and related associations.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Mr. Tran Duy Tam Thanh said that along with the general difficulties of the economy, the fisheries industry of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province also faces many difficulties including exploitation, farming, processing and export industries. The conference is an opportunity to provide information to businesses about solutions and technologies to overcome immediate difficulties as well as long-term development solutions for innovation in exploitation and aquaculture, improving production management and market development for fisheries processing and exporting enterprises.

At the Conference, Ms. Pham Thi Na shared an overview of the current situation of fisheries industry development in BR-VT province. Accordingly, the province's fisheries exploitation output in 2022 is 358,320 tons. In the first 6 months of 2023, it is estimated to reach 170,634 tons. Currently, the total number of fishing vessels registered for management of the province is 4,664 fishing vessels, of which 2,768 fishing vessels exploiting offshore areas, accounting for 59%. Most fishing vessels are equipped with advanced and modern machinery such as fish finders, locators, depth gauges, long-range radio... There are some types of exploitation.. However, the current fisheries industry has to suffer the consequences of "exhausted aquatic resources" due to unsustainable exploitation and lack of conservation over the past decades. Therefore, it is necessary to change occupations and to reduce destructive exploitation. And at the same time, we must improve, innovate in fisheries processing and raw material preservation.

Accordingly, Mr. Truong Dinh Hoe - General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) also shared about market development solutions for fisheries processing and exporting enterprises. He affirmed that Vietnamese fisheries industry plays an important role in Vietnam's economic structure and has an international brand. In order to increase value for the fisheries industry, lower costs, and stabilising exports, it must invest in technology to optimize costs.

According to Mr. Ngo Viet Hoai, Deputy General Director Ba Ria -Vung Tau Seafood Processing & Import - Export ,. JSC, technology businesses do not need to research large and high-tech technology systems to compete with the world. It can focus on technological groups to solve specific problems of each business, even each production step to personalize technology for each business. This will be a new direction for small and medium enterprises.

At the conference, delegates, experts, agencies, departments, and businesses contributed many innovative and technological solutions to enhance the value of the fisheries industry in fisheries exploitation, aquaculture and export processing, such as solutions to improve production management in processing enterprises; Innovative solutions in aquaculture; Open Innovation Model to solve problems for fisheries businesses; Connecting resources to incubate innovative start-up projects serving the fisheries industry;...

Within the framework of the conference, the Department of Science and Technology launched the contest "Innovation in the fisheries industry in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province in 2023". The competition is organized to find and develop innovative technological solutions aimed at enhancing the value chain to solve problems in the fisheries industry supply chain that can be developed into products, startup projects, good technology businesses. The competition will be held annually, from 2020. To effectively implement the 2023 Fisheries Innovation Competition, the Organizing Committee will connect resources from businesses, institutes, and supporting organizations, and advisors to support the incubation and development of innovative start-up projects during the Competition as well as after the Competition. The contest includes 08 prizes (1 First prize, 2 Second prizes, 2 Third prizes and 3 Consolation prizes). The deadline for submitting preliminary round applications is September 30, 2023. In October 2023, the Semi-final round of the contest will be held (online/live) and in November 2023, the Final round of the contest will be held.