There is tremendous opportunity for Vietnamese seedless limes, cultivated in Ben Luc District in the Mekong Delta province of Long An, to be exported to Japan, a fastidious market.

This was stated at an agricultural promotion conference recently held in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.

At the event, Yoshinobu Nisaka, governor of Wakayama Prefecture, said he was interested in agricultural cooperation between Viet Nam and Japan in general and Wakayama and Long An in particular. Long An can send labourers to Wakayama to support agricultural production there, he said.

Japan wants to purchase Vietnamese seedless lime and lime products, such as pure lime powder, instant lime powder, canned lime juice and lime seasoning powder, agricultural expert Kha Chan Tuyen said.

He noted that desiccated lime slices, lime leaves, dried lime peel, and especially lime essential oil, are all favoured by the Japanese, who found that these products are made of stable and quality materials.

Nguyen Van Hien, chairman of the Chanh Viet Trading and Investment Joint Stock Company, said agricultural experts are supporting his company and local farmers with techniques to cultivate quality seedless limes.

Fresh limes and lime products of Ben Luc locals would gain a foothold in the Japanese market, he believed.

Earlier, Chanh Viet Trading and Investment JSC exported its products to some European countries. Seedless lime products have also drawn attention from Muslim markets. — VNS