Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced today that the first shipment of Canadian lambs successfully entered Vietnam. The first ever commercial sale of Canadian live ruminants to Vietnam, worth $50,000, is paving the way for an expanded market.
“Evident by today’s good news, the Canadian industry is benefiting from new market access secured by the Harper Government,” said Minister Ritz. “This is the first shipment of many, as Vietnam is a promising market, a strong trading partner, and a door to Southeast Asia for Canadian farmers.”
Minister Ritz congratulated OC Flock Management, a member of the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association (CLGA) from Bowden, Alberta, as the first Canadian company to ship lambs to Vietnam. In August 2011, the Harper Government secured new market access for its breeding cattle, sheep, and goats. Taking advantage of this new market access, and building on several years of collaboration between Canadian and Vietnamese industries, OC Flock Management shipped lambs to Vietnam to be used for breeding purposes.
“CLGA would like to thank all of the people who have worked so hard to make this finally happen-our Government of Canada partners, member companies, and our colleagues in Vietnam,” said Rick McRonald, CLGA Executive Director. “We congratulate CLGA member OC Flock Management for securing this agreement with the Goat and Rabbit Research Centre. This first ever delivery of sheep strengthens the Canada-Vietnam partnership and signals the beginning of the next phase in the development of the nucleus herd project.”
This announcement is one more example of the strong and successful partnership between the Harper Government and the agriculture industry, who worked hand in hand to gain access for breeding cattle, sheep, and goats to the Vietnamese market. Canada is now competing for its share of an industry with an estimated market value of close to $50 million.
