EU Launches Project to Help Vietnam’s Phyto-pharmaceutical Sector

The EU has launched a project to help Vietnamese phyto-pharmaceutical enterprises enhance competitiveness by bringing their products up to international standards, state media reported. The EUR2-million project, which is operational between 2016 and 2020, is jointly implemented by HELVETAS Vietnam, National Institute of Medicinal Materials and Center for Rural Economy Development, the EU Delegation to Vietnam said in a press release. The project is expected to involve 12 phyto-pharmaceutical enterprises, 5,000 farmers/ households and relevant agencies from the Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. It aims to increase income of farmers/ households through support for effective implementation of Ethical BioTrade value chains, consolidation of knowledge and skills in cultivating, harvesting/collecting, and processing of ingredients, all in a manner that respects biodiversity and environmental protection. (Thoi Bao Kinh Te – Economic Times June 9 p3, qdnd.vn June 8)