(VOVworld) - After 12 years of negotiations, the first shipments of 17 tonnes of Vietnamese litchi have been present in Australia, said Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) on Friday. From June 12 to June 19, a total of 12 tons of litchi have been exported to Australia. Over the past week, the Rong Do Company has shipped 12 tonnes of litchi to Melbourne while Fosti and Thien Anh Minh have also transported one tonne of litchi to Sydney. Other shipments of Vietnamese litchi are delivering to the market next week, said the MoIT on its website. Vietnam has been seeking Australia's permission for fresh litchi export since 2003. First successful shipments of fresh litchi into Australia could open up bright prospects for more contracts to be signed with greater amount of litchi to enter the Australian market. The Vietnam’s Trade Counselor in Australia is cooperating with organizations and individuals to boost trade promotion activities for Vietnamese litchi.