Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)
Can Tho
(VNA) – Authorities of the Mekong city of Can Tho and Brazil’s Maranhao state
on October 26 signed a letter of intent to set up friendship and cooperation in
rice research and production and aquaculture.
The two sides will focus
on transferring high-tech production to increase productivity and ensure food
safety, while coordinating in analysing the regional demand for rice made in
Vietnam and Brazil, thus choosing right varieties.
The two localities
will also share information on items subjected to plant quarantine in import-export
activities between the two countries, and provide each other with information
of plant protection drugs and other chemicals in line with food safety standards
of each other.
Addressing the signing
ceremony, Carlos Brandao, Deputy Governor of Maranho state, said that Brazil
pays special attention to ties with Vietnam in all fields, especially
agricultural research, rice cultivation and aquaculture as agriculture is a
spearhead sector of Brazil.
He proposed cooperating
with Can Tho to build an international rice research institute in the state’s
capital city of Sao Luis, in which the state will provide land and support 50
percent of cost for the facility’s construction as well as send experts to work
with Vietnamese partners in high tech application in agriculture.
Maranhao is located in
the North East of Brazil with the area tantamount to Vietnam and a population of
seven million. Owning the second largest deepwater port of Brazil, the state is
Brazil’s gateway to the world. It holds high potential of affiliation with
Vietnam in rice production, aquaculture, telecommunications, mining, apparel, wood,
electronics and animal feed materials.
In 2016, Vietnam and
Brazil enjoyed 4 billion USD in trade, with Vietnam’s exports of 1.8 billion
USD.
Vo Thanh Thong,
Chairman of the People’s Committee of Can Tho lauded goodwill of Maranhao in
specifying cooperation activities to strengthen bilateral cooperation between
the two localities.
He pledged to
coordinate closely with the Maranhao side and the Brazilian Embassy in Hanoi in
implementing bilateral partnership.
Thong also revealed
that Can Tho will soon send a delegation to Maranhao to seek specific measures
to foster collaboration in all fields.-VNA