A round table conference on the establishment of the Vietnam –
Netherlands Cooperation Forum was held on March 27 in Hanoi to intensify
cooperation in the field of fruit and vegetables between the two
countries.
The establishment is in line with the
two sides’ expectation, bringing about new opportunities for the two
sides’ agricultural cooperation, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and
Rural Development Vu Van Tam.
Although Vietnam is
one of the world’s five leading exporters of fruit and vegetables, the
sector does not reflect the country’s potentiality and strengths, which
requires support from governmental agencies, state-owned enterprises and
international organisations, he added.
For his
part, Netherlands Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and
Innovation Hans Hoogreveen expressed his hope that the private sector
will take initiative in the cooperation forum focusing on training,
processing and technology for sustainable development and climate change
adaptation.
At the event, Director of the Vietnam
Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute Trinh Khac Quang made several
suggestions to further both sides’ cooperation and research in the
field.
Vietnam now exports its fruit and vegetables
to 40 countries and territories. In 2012, the export turnover of fruit
and vegetables topped 800 million USD.
The two sides are expected to sign a cooperation agreement on the field on March 28.-VNA