n a letter to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 18, Ms. Anna Boulova wrote: Our members have been working with many different countries and origins, including Vietnam. Vietnam is an important partner of Europe and European countries (EU-27) are also Vietnam's third largest export market; We also signed a free trade agreement. In the past 10 years, bilateral trade has more than tripled. From May 2020 to April 2021, EU-27 countries imported 36 billion euros worth of goods from Vietnam. Cashew nuts are a particularly important commodity for many FRUCOM members and Vietnam has become the leading country of origin for this product. In 2020, nearly 700 million Euros of shelled cashew imports came from Vietnam, accounting for about 75% of the total supply of cashew nuts in the EU and UK markets. frucom decided to invest money in vaccines for the food industry Workers process cashew nuts at a cashew nut export business in Binh Phuoc. (Photo: Quang Minh) Currently, we are facing a critical issue in Vietnam that could have serious consequences for cashew supply over the next 6-12 months in the absence of appropriate support to the industry. this. Vietnam has issued a directive to blockade 16 southern provinces of the country, where the largest cashew production is available. Cashew factories had to maintain a small number (%) of workers on site or stop production. Up to now, processing output in Vietnam is estimated to have decreased by 30-35%; However, with the continuation of mandatory testing, it is likely that the positive result will be higher and the factory will be forced to close… According to Ms. Anna Boulova, the cashew industry needs urgent support with vaccination to keep the supply chain operating, especially in the southern provinces, which generate most of the budget revenue from taxes. Starting from growers (or traders) cannot deliver goods to primary processors and factories in Binh Phuoc and Binh Duong provinces, so it is very difficult to get goods. Urgent vaccination is required for factory workers, farmers in communes and key infrastructure workers in Ho Chi Minh City where the office and the port of shipment are located. frucom decided to invest money in vaccines for the food industry Frucom's letter was sent out on August 18, signed by Secretary General Anna Boulova. (Photo: Vinacas) “This sector provides food for the people, generates income and pays taxes to the State, as well as maintains jobs related to processing and trade at home and abroad, and in our view it is should be considered a priority area. We respectfully ask you to support efforts to get this very important supply chain back up and running very quickly through targeted vaccination," Anna Boulova suggested in the letter. . Previously, on August 3, Bob Bauer, President of the American Food Industry Association also sent a letter to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, asking Vietnam to prioritize Covid-19 vaccination for the labor force. workers, agricultural production and food processing workers in Vietnam, especially the cashew industry. According to the Vietnam Cashew Association (Vinacas), over the past 30 years, Vietnam's cashew industry has had a remarkable development. From only exporting raw cashew nuts in small quantities, Vietnam has become the leading cashew kernel processing and exporting country in the world for 16 consecutive years (from 2005 to present). Currently, Vietnam accounts for nearly 80% of cashew kernel exports in the world. Cashew exports annually bring the country about 3.5 billion USD. In which, exports to the US accounted for 30%. The Covid-19 pandemic, with its complicated developments, has heavily affected the operations of businesses in general and the cashew industry in particular. This has a great impact on the supply of Vietnamese cashew kernels to the world market in general and the US market in particular. The risk of disruption to Vietnam's cashew kernel supply is a concern of many importers around the world. In order to create favorable conditions for cashew businesses to make efforts to realize "Dual goals" under the direction of the Government, the Vietnam Cashew Association proposed the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Health and related sectors to consider and allow employees to Activities in businesses of members of the Vietnam Cashew Association and businesses in the cashew industry are given priority to be vaccinated against Covid-19.