Viet Nam, New Zealand build resilience and vitality in agriculture economies following COVID-19 pandemic
New Zealand and Viet Nam voiced their commitment to deepening the two countries’ agriculture and trade relationship at the second Viet Nam-New Zealand Agricultural Dialogue held on 6 April.
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| The second Viet Nam-New Zealand Agricultural Dialogue was held on 6 April. |
The dialogue was held virtually by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Le Quoc Doanh and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries, Mr Ray Smith.
The event was also attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Nguyen Van Trung, New Zealand Agricultural Counselor to Viet Nam Sai Tongbor, and representatives of many related ministries and sectors.
Both sides affirmed that in order to realize the goal of achieving two-way trade turnover to 2 billion USD by 2024, as stated in the Viet Nam-New Zealand Strategic Partnership Action Plan, increasing bilateral agricultural cooperation and connections between the two countries is the key.
Speaking at the dialogue, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh said: “Agriculture is critical to the economic wellbeing of our countries. Both nations are strong agriculture producers and exporters, with complementary products".
The Deputy Minister expressed his belief that the Viet Nam-New Zealand Agricultural Dialogue will boost their connections, cooperation and two-way trade, in line with what two Prime Ministers highlighted in the Strategic Partnership Joint Statement.
The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries is already supporting agriculture cooperation with MARD with activities in plant health, veterinary epidemiology and electronic certification.
These activities complement New Zealand’s ongoing development programme, which has a number of agriculture projects including the premium fruit development project in Tien Giang, the rural dam safety project in Central Viet Nam, and the safe vegetables project in Binh Dinh.
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| Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh at the dialogue. |
For his part, Mr Ray Smith emphasized the opportunity for both sides to consider how they can work together to build resilience and vitality in their agriculture economies following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ray Smith said that New Zealand has developed one of the most efficient agriculture sectors in the world, with a reputation for cutting edge research and technology, robust and safe agricultural practices, and delicious and high-quality products.
“We recognise that increased trade is not just about exporting more products, it's about an exchange of knowledge, expertise, technology, services, and investment. This two-way exchange benefits both of us.”
He added: “We also look forward to finalising new fruit access for each other this year so consumers can enjoy New Zealand strawberries and squash in Viet Nam and Viet Nam’s limes and pomelos in New Zealand.”
The leader of the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries also reaffirmed that New Zealand will keep assisting MARD’s greenhouse gas inventory capability through the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases.
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| Chief Executive of the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries, Mr Ray Smith, expressed his wish to finalise new fruit access for each other. |
Both sides are committed to advancing their key agricultural interests in enhancing bilateral trade, reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, promoting food safety, utilising agriculture research and technology, and in rural development.
Two-way merchandise trade between Viet Nam and New Zealand in 2021 topped 1.56 billion USD, an increase of 14 percent. By December 2021, Viet Nam was New Zealand’s 15th largest trading partner.
Viet Nam remains a promising market for New Zealand and vice versa due to robust demand for key agricultural products.
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| Overview of the second Viet Nam-New Zealand Agricultural Dialogue. |
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| Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Le Quoc Doanh and New Zealand Agricultural Counselor to Viet Nam Sai Tongbor. |
