Vietnam, Bulgaria promote substantive agricultural cooperation: Ambassador Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet
WVR - Recently, in Sofia, Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet held discussions with Bulgarian Minister of Agriculture and Food, Plamen Abrovski, to explore measures to enhance agricultural cooperation, contributing to the concretization of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
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| Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet working with Bulgaria's Minister of Agriculture and Food Plamen Abrovski. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Bulgaria) |
During the meeting, the Bulgarian side highly appreciated the potential for cooperation with Vietnam in agricultural trade, scientific research, training, and technology transfer. Bulgaria expressed its readiness to share experiences in sustainable agricultural development, forest management and development, combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as well as in cultivation, livestock, and breeding crop varieties adaptable to climate change.
The Bulgarian side emphasised its strengths in research and technology application in agriculture and expressed a desire to enhance the exchange of experts, researchers, and students between research institutes and universities of the two countries.
On the Vietnamese side, Ambassador Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet emphasised the need to transform the excellent political relations and the Strategic Partnership framework into specific, practical cooperation programs. The Ambassador proposed strengthening connections between management agencies, research institutes, universities, and businesses, focusing on exploring cooperation needs in areas such as crop varieties, post-harvest technology, livestock, veterinary medicine, sustainable fisheries, forestry, green agriculture, and digital technology application.
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| The meeting contributed to identifying further directions for agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and Bulgaria in the process of concretizing the Strategic Partnership. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Bulgaria) |
The Ambassador suggested initially organizing online connections between businesses and research institutions to identify partners and specific cooperation needs, laying the groundwork for direct surveys and exchanges. The Ambassador also requested that Bulgaria introduce research institutes, universities, and experts whose strengths align with Vietnam's needs.
The two sides discussed the potential for enhanced cooperation in animal and plant quarantine, food safety, and technical standards for agricultural products, thereby facilitating trade between the two countries.
In the field of science, technology, and human resource training, the Ambassador proposed increasing the exchange of experts and researchers, organizing short-term training programs and practical surveys. The Ambassador also mentioned the possibility of seeking suitable programs and resources from the European Union and international organizations to support agricultural research, training, and technology transfer.
Besides cooperation at the ministerial and research institution levels, the Ambassador suggested that Bulgaria introduce localities with strengths in agriculture, livestock, processing, and agricultural technology to connect with suitable localities in Vietnam. Based on actual needs, partners can explore pilot cooperation models linked to specific businesses or research institutes.
The Ambassador also proposed promoting ministerial-level visits and working sessions to facilitate direct exchanges between agencies, businesses, and localities of the two countries, seeking cooperation opportunities in the near future.
The meeting contributed to identifying further directions for agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and Bulgaria in the process of concretizing the Strategic Partnership. Strengthening the exchange of experiences, connecting science and technology, training human resources, and promoting agricultural trade is expected to provide additional momentum for cooperation between the two countries in the coming time.
