Dutch trade mission explores opportunities in Vietnam
The Vice Minister started the first day in Ho Chi Minh city by giving an opening speech at the business forum on agriculture and innovation in Vietnam. The Forum is a platform for entrepreneurs to discuss and share experiences on how to develop a sustainable agricultural economy.
Vice Minister, business delegation and economic staff of the Consulate General at the opening of the Business Forum
Later that day, Dutch companies in the delegation had B2B meetings with Vietnamese companies to explore possibilities for business cooperation.
The Vice Minister also witnessed a signing ceremony of cooperation agreements on different sectors between Dutch and Vietnamese companies.
The Vice Minister and the delegation also visited the Unilever Vietnam factory in Cu Chi which is a state of art manufacturing hub. Later that day, she also had a meeting with Mr. Le Thanh Liem – Standing Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City.
Visit to Unilever factory in Cu Chi
Dutch Vice Minister Sonnema and part of the trade delegation made a visit to the Aquaculture R&D Facility in Vinh Long province. This is a state-of-the-art facility designed for different R&D purposes, suitable for Pangasius, Tilapia, Snakehead fish, Shrimp and other local species. This project was partly subsidized by the Transition Facility and developed by De Heus, Fresh Studio, Wageningen University and Can Tho University.
Visit to aquaculture R&D centre in Vinh Long
Visit to Aquaculture R&D centre and new De Heus factory
Courtesy meeting with Vice Chairman of HCMC People’s Committee
Business delegation visit Bejo farm in Dalat
Matchmaking sessions in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city. A large number of Vietnamese companies were registered to meet with Dutch companies and knowledge institutes participating in business delegation this time. For some of them, new deals and future partnerships are foreseen.
In the evening of 21 March, the delegation arrived in Hanoi. In the morning of 22 March, the Vice Minister visited a potato field in Tu Son district, Bac Ninh, which is the project site of “Growing out of poverty with potato”. This is a joint project by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Fresh Studio, Agrico, PepsiCo Vietnam and Dutch Wageningen University, which sets an example of a sustainable value chain for high quality potatoes in Vietnam, using two Dutch potato varieties, Markies & Rosagold. Potatoes provide an interesting opportunity to improve food security, support pro-poor development and boost a healthy, diverse diet in Vietnam.
Awarding certificates to local farmers, who successfully completed the potato production training course provided by the project.
Harvesting Rosa Gold potato
Business delegation visit the retail network together with Chairwoman of Vietnam Retail Association
Knowledge Exchange at Hanoi Agriculture Academy
Courtesy meeting with Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong with the presence of selected Dutch and Vietnamese business and knowledge institutes.
And the highlight of the Vice Minister visit to Vietnam is the Regional Conference on Food Security, where she co-chaired together with Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam. The conference focuses on reducing food waste and food losses with a view to developing new solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals. These new solutions have been explored in several working groups. During the events, 51 deals are signed including Vietnam – the Netherlands Letter of Intent to strengthen their cooperation on food safety and an MoU between Agriterra and Vietnam Cooperation Association on the development of agricultural cooperations in Vietnam.
Source: Agroberichten Buitenland