Enhancing technology, agricultural market cooperation of Vietnam, New Zealand

On the afternoon of September 29, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung received and held working session with Mr. Hamish Marr, New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy. The meeting aimed to promote bilateral agricultural trade relations, as agriculture is considered a key area of cooperation in 50-year Vietnam - New Zealand diplomatic ties. Also joining the meeting is Ms. Hannah King, Agricultural Counsellor, New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam.

At the meeting with Deputy Minister Hoang Trung, Mr. Hamish Marr shared that although he was appointed as the Special Envoy and reported to the New Zealand Government, he carries the voice of the farming community and agricultural producers. "From my side, I support and work directly with farmers and producers, open up markets, and advance international cooperation in New Zealand’s agriculture," Mr. Marr said.

Like Vietnam, New Zealand’s agriculture also follows the guideline of low-emission, sustainability-oriented development. Both the government and the farming community are implementing many initiatives to increase value while reducing pressure on natural resources. However, Mr. Marr candidly admitted that many farmers still remain hesitant about technological changes.

"The greatest challenge is how to encourage farmers to apply science and innovation in production," he noted, expressing his wish to learn from Vietnam’s policy experiences.

The Deputy Minister appreciated and welcomed his’s sharing of the story of sustainable agricultural development, including priority policies for farmers and pioneering initiatives in developing a low-emission agriculture. These are valuable experiences, especially in the context of global challenges posed by climate change, food security, and the urgent need for sustainable development.

Deputy Minister Hoang Trung stated that Vietnam has clearly defined multi-sectoral goals in the Sustainable Agriculture and Environment Strategy for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050. "Vietnamese agriculture is oriented toward modern production, with progressive farmers, high-tech applications, and maximizing value per unit of land,” he emphasized.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has been developing tailored strategies for each agricultural sector, accompanied by concrete solutions to improve productivity and quality, contributing not only to export targets but also to national and global food security.

The Deputy Minister elaborated: "Vietnam’s farming and livestock systems are moving toward high-quality standards, food safety, science and technology applications, brand building, and the development of processing infrastructure."

Agriculture currently accounts for about 12% of Vietnam’s GDP but is regarded as the backbone of the economy, playing an essential role in the nation’s economic, social, and environmental development. It also provides livelihoods for nearly 10 million farming households.

In 2024, the total agro-forestry-fishery trade turnover between Vietnam and New Zealand reached 525.3 million USD, down 14.8% compared to 2023. Of this, Vietnam’s exports to New Zealand were 69.4 million USD, while imports from New Zealand amounted to 455.9 million USD. According to Deputy Minister Hoang Trung, these figures highlight the need for more effective cooperation to boost two-way trade.

"Both Vietnam and New Zealand are small countries dependent on exports. Therefore, keeping up-to-date with market requirements, capturing consumer trends, and orienting domestic production are key factors. Instead of competing each other, the two sides should leverage complementarities in agricultural products," Mr. Marr said.

Accordingly, the two countries will work to enhance the exchange of experience in taking full advantage of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to harmonize regulations and improve market access for bilateral goods.

Vietnam is pushing a true revolution in technology, new business models, advanced management capacity, and, in particular, encouraging the companionship of international business communities, including enterprises from New Zealand.

Concluding at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung expressed his expectation that Vietnam and New Zealand would deepen agricultural cooperation by combining New Zealand’s technical expertise, technology, and market development experience to improve the quality of agricultural products. In particular, New Zealand’s experience in applying international phytosanitary certification software will help optimize export-import operations.