In the morning of 29 October, Nha Trang University in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) held the opening ceremony for a training course entitled "Harnessing the Potential of the Fisheries Sector for Economic Development in Least Developed Countries".

View of the opening ceremony

At the opening ceremony, there were the attendance of Mr. Paul Akiwumi - Director of Division for Africa, LDCs and Special Programs, UNCTAD; Dr. Khong Trung Thang - Vice Rector of Nha Trang University; Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Anh – Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Asia Regional Center of Excellence, Nha Trang University; and about 50 delegates who are policymakers, practitioners and experts in the fisheries sector from 18 countries. This is an activity within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Nha Trang University and UNCTAD.

Mr. Paul Akiwumi gave speech at the opening ceremony

Image of all training course participants

In two weeks, participants discussed many contents related to how to harness the potential of fisheries sectors for socioeconomic development. There are nine modules:

1. Environmental, Social and Economic Role of the Fishery Sector: Development Potential of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sectors.
2. Standards and Quality (ISO): Need for Integrated Quality Infrastructure and Institution Building: The Role of ISO.
3. Managing Fish-stock, Overfishing and Combatting Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Activities.
4. Harnessing the Potential of Aquaculture for Export Diversification.
5. International trade, demand and supply trends: The trade and development potential of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
6. Market Access, subsidies and non-trade barriers.
7. Seafood Technology and Safety for Export Diversification and Sustainable Development of Developing Countries in Africa and Asia.
8. Environmental certification challenges, opportunities and prospects for weaker players.
9. Value Chain: Theory and Practice.

Dr. Khong Trung Thang received campaign medal from UNCTAD

Especially, Asoc. Prof. Trang Si Trung - Rector of Nha Trang University had left a good impression on the participants at the training course when giving a very interesting presentation about the adding values to fishery by-products by R&D.

Asoc. Prof. Trang Si Trung gave a presentation at the training course

Besides lecture and discussion sessions, participants have had opportunities to take field trips to some aquaculture farms, marine fish hatcheries, seafood processing factories in Khanh Hoa province. They also take a campus tour at Nha Trang University and visit Mariculture Research and Development Center of Research Institute of Aquaculture No.3 in Nha Trang City.

Field trip to a marine fish hatchery

Previously, in March 2018, Nha Trang University signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UNCTAD to establish the Regional Center of Excellence in fisheries sector. The center serves as a hub for fisheries and aquaculture in least developed countries in Africa and Asia.

Some other images:

Dr. Khong Trung Thang gave speech at the opening ceremony

Lecturers from Nha Trang University

Field trip to shrimp farms in Khanh Hoa province

Department of External Cooperation