High-quality Chilean agricultural products seek market in Vietnam

Recently, the Embassy of Chile in Vietnam, in collaboration with the Chilean Meat Exporters’ Association (ChileCarne), organized an event to showcase Chile’s high-quality products such as salmon, wine, and pork. The event aimed to strengthen agricultural trade cooperation between the two hemispheric nations, leveraging the advantages of free trade agreements and their shared commitment to sustainable development.

Great potential for agricultural cooperation

In an interview with the Vietnam Agriculture and Nature Newspaper, Ms. Rosaura Campusano Alarcón, Agricultural Attaché of the Chilean Embassy in Vietnam, emphasized: "Agricultural cooperation is one of the key pillars in our bilateral trade relations."

In 2011, Vietnam signed its first Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with a South American country - Chile. Both nations are also members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which facilitates the exchange of goods, agricultural produce, and processed food products.

Ms. Rosaura noted that there remains vast potential for two-way agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and Chile. Chile is currently working to expand its meat and fruit export markets in Vietnam, focusing on key products such as cherries, apples, and grapes.

“We have informed the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment that there are about five to six Vietnamese agricultural products that could be immediately exported to Chile,” Ms. Rosaura said, expressing her wish to import more agricultural goods from Vietnam and to strengthen two-way trade exchange further.

With a length of over 4,300 km from north to south, encompassing seven climatic zones and more than 6,500 km of coastline, Chile possesses exceptional natural conditions for agriculture. The South American nation is often described as a biological safe island, naturally protected by the Atacama Desert to the north, the Andes Mountains to the east, Patagonia to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

These natural barriers have helped Chile remain free from many dangerous animal diseases such as African swine fever and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), reinforcing its reputation for clean and safe agricultural production.

According to Mr. Juan Carlos Dominguez Covarrubias, President of ChileCarne, Chile is among the top 25 food-exporting countries in the world. Its total export revenue exceeds 100 billion USD annually, of which food accounts for 23%. Chile's leading export products include fresh fruit, salmon, wine, pork, and poultry. Statistics show that every day, more than 82 million people worldwide consume Chilean fruit, while over 20 million people enjoy Chilean salmon and pork.

This success stems from Chile’s modern production systems and strict inspection standards. The Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) of Chile is internationally recognized for its excellence in biosafety and traceability.

Vietnam: The strategic destination for Chilean agricultural products

Agricultural Attaché Rosaura Campusano Alarcón assessed that Vietnam is a strategic destination of Chilean farm products in Southeast Asia, offering great potential for Chilean businesses.

“We don’t just want to sell products to Vietnam. We want to grow together,” she emphasized. “I hope to see Vietnamese agricultural products on Chilean supermarket shelves, just as I hope Vietnamese consumers will love Chilean goods.”

In 2025, the Chilean pork sector will commemorate four decades of joint efforts with the public sector. Thanks to the Association of Pig Producers (ASPROCER), it has evolved from an emerging industry to a global leader in quality, health, and sustainability.

She also noted that the Chilean Embassy is working closely with Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and relevant technical agencies to facilitate market access for businesses from both countries, particularly in the areas of quarantine procedures and technical standards.

“We hope to collaborate with Vietnam’s technical authorities to officially open the market and allow the import of Chilean products,” Ms. Rosaura Campusano Alarcón said, expressing her request for support from the Vietnamese side and reaffirming Chile’s commitment to promoting cooperation.

According to the Agricultural Attaché, the Government of Chile has expressed its commitment to comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam across economic, political, cultural, and social fields, with an emphasis on training, research, and agricultural technology transfer.

Chile also seeks to share its experience in food safety management, cold chain logistics, sustainable livestock development, and high-tech agricultural production.