Entrepreneurs from Hongkong (China) recently toured the Mekong Delta region and decided to purchase 40,000 tonnes of rice. They are considering importing more rice from the region, according to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).

Currently, businesses are speeding up the signing of contracts to export dragon fruit and rambutan to the US and European Union (EU). They have also inked contracts to ship nearly 20 containers of various kinds of fruit, including dragon fruit, to China and the Middle East.

Vinamit Joint Stock Company, which specialises in dried fruit products, said it has also secured deals to deliver products to China, Cambodia and Laos.

Almost all Tra catfish processing enterprises have now resumed production after Tet and a series of export contracts have been penned in the early days of this year.

The Vietnam Pepper Association said many businesses have signed contracts to export black pepper to foreign markets following the long Tet holiday. This is a positive sign for businesses in the context of economic slowdown.