Strengthen Vietnam - Finland cooperation in agricultural development

A meeting between Vietnam Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan (right) and the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Jari Leppa on the recent September 10th. Photo: Anh Tuan.

During the official visit to Finland by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and the high-ranking delegation of the National Assembly of Vietnam; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan had had a meeting with the Finnish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Jari Leppa.

“Our main purpose here is to strengthen cooperation between the two ministries; looking forward to sharing, exchanging and learning, opening up new opportunities for cooperation”, said Minister Le Minh Hoan to Mr. Jari Leppa.

Minister Le Minh Hoan expressed his gratitude towards the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for supporting Vietnam in training human resources and implementing projects related to national forest information data. Minister Le Minh Hoan highly appreciates phases 1 and 2 of the project which has helped Vietnam’s forestry sector create a foundation to effectively manage the forest information system, and seeks further support from Finland during the integration of phase 3 as well as during the development of multi-use forests.

“We have found similarities in many areas of management between the two ministries. Therefore, I think it is necessary to have a mechanism for regular contact or direct communication between both sides to discuss in more detail about specific mechanisms and contents in the areas where the two ministries possess strengths and need for cooperation”, the Head of Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shared.

The meeting of the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Photo: Anh Tuan.

In terms of international trade, Vietnam is one of the top 15 agricultural producing countries in the world, but the trade relation with Finland is still humble. Therefore, in the near future, both sides will need to promote the export of complementary products.

From a spontaneous fishing industry, Vietnam is now introducing an organized fishing industry to protect the country's seafood resources. Accordingly, Vietnam has issued many related laws and documents to closely monitor this activity. Minister Le Minh Hoan affirmed that responsible seafood farming is also the task of the Vietnamese people with the marine ecosystem, fulfilling the commitment before the international community.

Mr. Jarri Leppa, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, said that for Finland to have clean land, forest, and water to produce clean products, research plays a very important role. As a matter of fact, Finland has the longest history of forest and nature research in the world, and they are willing to share their knowledge in this field with Vietnam.

Moreover, Finland is also very interested in projects promoting the development of cooperatives, promoting the cooperation, trade and development of circular economy and bio-economy. Both sides can share experiences in these areas of mutual interest.

Despite knowing the fact that Finland has many other strengths apart from the forestry sector, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam still wishes to continue strengthening the cooperation in the forestry sector - a field considered as the "label of cooperation” between the two countries in the past time; consider having a special preferential mechanism to support on resources so that Vietnam can strengthen the maintenance and development of the "Forest Sector Management Information System" (FORMIS).

At the meeting, the two ministers have agreed to issue a specific cooperation framework in the near future.

"We are also making efforts in dealing with the issue of IUU fishing. We urge Finland to recognize Vietnam's efforts in preventing IUU fishing and voice support so that the European Commission will consider removing the "Yellow Card" for Vietnam's seafood industry sooner. At the same time, Vietnam requests that Finland cooperate with the EU to continue supporting Vietnam to implement the VPA/FLEGT, improving legal timber exportation from Vietnam to the EU", said Minister Le Minh Hoan.