Ministry of Foreign Affairs partners with businesses to expand agro-forestry-fishery exports to EU
WVR – On November 13, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a seminar titled "Promoting Vietnam's Agro-Forestry-Fishery Exports to the EU Market" chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang.
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| Overview of the seminar "Promoting Vietnam's Agro-Forestry-Fishery Exports to the EU Market" chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
The seminar saw the participation of over 200 delegates both in-person and online, including leaders from various localities, representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, and associations and businesses in the agro-forestry-fishery sector.
Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs included those from the European Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, and Vietnamese diplomatic missions in Europe.
In her remarks at the seminar, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang stated that stable political-diplomatic relations along with the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) continue to provide a crucial foundation for Vietnam to expand its presence in the EU market amid increasing global trade competition.
The EU is currently the world's third-largest market for agro-forestry-fishery products, yet Vietnamese agricultural products only account for about 3% of the market share, despite Vietnam being a leading exporter of coffee, cashew nuts, pepper, rice, seafood, and tropical fruits.
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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang speaking at the seminar. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
The Deputy Minister urged delegates to discuss solutions to sustainably and stably increase agro-forestry-fishery exports to the EU, especially as the EU increasingly enforces strict regulations on green standards, environmental protection, and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The seminar was lively, with active contributions from delegates. Representatives from localities, associations, and businesses agreed with Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang's view on the need to shift from raw exports to high-value exports, from quantity to sustainable quality, aligning with the EU's high standards. They emphasized building national brands and green, clean products that meet European consumer preferences, particularly by incorporating Vietnamese culture and stories into each product.
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| Vice Chairman of Vinh Long Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Quynh Thien attending the meeting online. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Delegates highlighted that while the EU is a very promising market, Vietnamese businesses lack the capacity to meet the EU's technical, environmental, and sustainable production standards, and the brand recognition of Vietnamese products in the EU market remains low. Vice Chairman of Vinh Long Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Quynh Thien stressed the need for businesses to enhance green transformation and adapt to the EU's sustainable standards.
Vice Chairman of Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee Le Duc Tien suggested that ministries and sectors should enhance information dissemination and guide businesses to meet these EU regulations. Vice Chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee Dao Van Cuong emphasized the importance of products aligning with local needs and tastes. The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) shared challenges due to Vietnam's "IUU yellow card" and expressed a desire for technical and technological support from the EU to improve compliance with sustainable seafood exploitation regulations.
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| Mr. Mai Hai Lam, Chairman of the "We love Pho" Network, hopes for the support of embassies to assist businesses in development. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Mr. Mai Hai Lam, Chairman of the "We love Pho" Network and a Vietnamese entrepreneur in Poland, emphasized the need to learn from other countries about linking products with national brands and engaging cultural stories. He expressed a desire for the support of embassies and businesses in organizing Pho Weeks across Europe.
Vietnamese diplomatic missions assessed that the European market has high and stable purchasing power, favouring organic products, which align with Vietnam's strengths. However, Vietnam faces competition from other countries with similar products and needs to innovate promotional and trade promotion methods. Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to Belgium – EU, noted that the EU's high requirements pose both challenges and opportunities for Vietnamese agro-forestry-fishery products to meet international standards.
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| Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to Belgium – EU, speaking online at the seminar. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
With the principle of "putting people and businesses at the centre of service", Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang affirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to partner with localities, associations, and businesses to more effectively access the EU market. The Ministry will also continue discussions with EU authorities to resolve obstacles and maximize the opportunities provided by the EVFTA.
Accordingly, Vietnamese diplomatic missions need to proactively support businesses in accessing timely and comprehensive information about EU market regulations and demands. They should also enhance product promotion activities with diverse and creative forms, fostering connections across European regions, maximizing resources, and utilizing distribution channels of overseas Vietnamese. Furthermore, they should promote technical cooperation and green transformation to support Vietnam's agro-forestry-fishery sector in meeting green and sustainable standards.
The Deputy Minister hopes that localities and businesses will actively coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to vigorously promote building the Vietnamese national brand, linking each product with stories about Vietnam and its people in the journey to bring Vietnamese agricultural products to the world.
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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and delegates attending the seminar. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
