4 directions for Viet Nam-Queensland agricultural trade cooperation

Recently, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien held a working session with the Queensland (Australia) delegation led by Ms. Ros Bates MP, Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training of Queensland. Her visit and the delegation’s mission take place as the Viet Nam-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continues to flourish, offering numerous opportunities for deeper cooperation in agriculture, trade, education, and innovation.

At the meeting, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien emphasized that Australia is one of Viet Nam’s most important agricultural trade partners. In recent years, bilateral trade in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries has maintained stable growth, reflecting mutual trust and complementarity within the regional supply chain.

"I am confident that this visit will further strengthen cooperation between Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Government of Queensland, opening up new opportunities for businesses and investors on both sides," Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien stated. 

Bilateral cooperation programs under ACIAR, CSIRO, and Aus4Innovation have yielded many practical outcomes, contributing to enhancing research capacity, technological innovation, and the development of sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture in Viet Nam.

In 2024, bilateral trade between Viet Nam and Australia reached approximately 4.2 billion AUD, with agricultural products and food accounting for a significant share. Viet Nam currently imports many high-quality commodities from Queensland, including beef, live cattle, cotton, grains, soybeans, and agricultural technologies. Conversely, Vietnamese products such as seafood, coffee, cashew nuts, fruits and vegetables, and processed foods hold strong potential for export expansion.

Minister Ros Bates MP congratulated Viet Nam on the recent market openings for Vietnamese pomelos and Australian blueberries. She also shared that the "Taste of Queensland" campaign is being implemented to promote the state’s key agricultural products, such as premium beef, nuts, and seafood.

According to Minister Bates, Queensland is a leading Australian state in developing clean, transparent, and traceable food supply chains, and stands ready to support Viet Nam in transitioning toward a sustainable agri-food system.

At the meeting, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien outlined four key directions for cooperation:

First, both sides should strengthen two-way trade in agricultural and food products, aiming for balanced trade and the development of sustainable value chains. Viet Nam has seven diverse agricultural ecological zones, along with standardized raw material areas, processing, and packaging facilities that meet traceability and food safety requirements. Viet Nam is ready to boost exports of its key products such as seafood, tropical fruits, processed agricultural goods, and organic foods to Queensland, while encouraging imports of high-quality products and advanced agricultural technologies from the state.

Second, expand cooperation in research, training, and the transfer of modern agricultural technologies. Viet Nam’s agricultural sector is moving toward green and digital transformation and looks forward to the participation of Queensland’s universities, research institutes, and enterprises in innovation programs, low-emission agriculture, and climate adaptation.

Third, promote investment and public-private partnerships (PPP) in agriculture to form large-scale commodity value chains. The Deputy Minister encouraged Queensland businesses to invest in high-tech agriculture, agri-logistics, processing centers, and value chain development in Viet Nam. Projects such as the TTC AgriS partnership with Mort & Co are exemplary models that should be expanded.

Fourth, enhance trade promotion and branding of agricultural products, with programs such as Taste of Queensland being implemented more regularly in Vietnam. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment stands ready to accompany and facilitate cooperation initiatives toward a sustainable, inclusive, and mutually prosperous agriculture for both nations.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien affirmed that, building on the strong tradition of cooperation and the upgraded Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2024, Viet Nam-Queensland agricultural collaboration will continue to grow robustly in the coming years. He also expressed the Ministry’s hope to expand investment cooperation in logistics infrastructure, seaports, aviation, rail, and maritime transport to help strengthen supply chain connectivity.

In addition to her role as Minister for Trade, Ms. Bates also oversees investment, ports, and commercial relations, and therefore expressed her willingness to engage further should Vietnamese enterprises seek market connections or face challenges in market access.