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The World Bank has approved nearly US$20 million in funding to modernise and strengthen Vietnam’s fisheries sector through a large-scale agritech and infrastructure upgrade project in Nghe An province, aimed at improving productivity, reducing losses, and making coastal aquaculture and capture fisheries more resilient and data-driven.
The project, formally valued at about US$19.94 million (VND500 billion), will support the development and upgrading of key fisheries infrastructure including fishing ports, landing sites, storm shelters, and anchorages, with a focus on enabling safer offshore fishing and improving cold-chain and post-harvest handling systems.
According to Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the intervention is designed not only to expand physical infrastructure but also to modernise fisheries management practices in line with more sustainable and technology-enabled production systems, helping reduce post-harvest losses and improve seafood quality for export markets.
Once completed, the upgraded facilities are expected to support around 2,000 fishing vessels and handle roughly 70,000 tonnes of seafood annually, positioning Nghe An as a more efficient node in Vietnam’s growing blue economy. The infrastructure upgrades will be implemented across several coastal areas, including Tan Mai, Quynh Mai, Quynh Anh, Quynh Phu, and Dien Chau, where fisheries remain a key livelihood driver but are constrained by ageing facilities and climate-related risks.
A major agritech and sustainability component of the project is its investment in brackish-water shrimp farming systems, which are being redesigned with improved biosafety, water management, and disease control infrastructure. The initiative will upgrade production zones covering about 734 hectares, with a total annual farming area of approximately 1,200 hectares and projected shrimp output of around 4,500 tonnes per year. The focus on controlled aquaculture systems reflects a broader shift toward climate-resilient, technology-enabled seafood production that reduces environmental pressure while increasing yield predictability.
The World Bank has begun coordination with local authorities in Nghe An to accelerate implementation, with project approvals and feasibility studies scheduled through 2026, and financing agreements expected to be finalised within the next year. Officials from the provincial government have highlighted the project’s importance in unlocking the region’s natural advantages for fisheries development while strengthening long-term economic resilience through infrastructure-led modernization.
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The investment also comes at a time when Vietnam’s seafood sector continues to expand its global footprint. In the first quarter of 2026, seafood exports reached US$2.64 billion, marking nearly 8 percent year-on-year growth. However, performance across key markets has been uneven, with strong demand from China and Hong Kong offset by declines in shipments to the US, Japan, and South Korea.
This shifting trade pattern underscores the importance of upgrading production systems and supply chain efficiency to maintain competitiveness in a more volatile global food market.
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Overall, the World Bank-backed project reflects a wider agritech transition in global fisheries, where infrastructure investment is increasingly tied to sustainability, digitalisation, and climate resilience. By combining modern port systems with upgraded aquaculture practices, Vietnam aims to strengthen both productivity and environmental performance in a sector that is becoming central to global food security strategies.
