MAE appoints 3 agricultural counselors

On June 1, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung held a working session with Vietnam’s first agricultural counselors in China, Japan, and South Korea.

Appointed under Decision No. 396/QĐ-BNG of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated February 26, 2026, Mr. Do Quang Tung was assigned for a working tenure as Agricultural Counselor at the Embassy of Vietnam in China.

Under Decision No. 1577/QĐ-BNG dated May 19, 2026, Mr. Bui Hai Nam was assigned for a working tenure as Agricultural Counselor at the Embassy of Vietnam in the Republic of Korea.

Under Decision No. 1578/QĐ-BNG dated May 19, 2026, Mr. Vu Cuong was assigned for a working tenure as Agricultural Counselor at the Embassy of Vietnam in Japan.

First deployment of agricultural counselors in three key markets

In addition to traditional markets such as the U.S. and Europe, the first-time appointment of agricultural counselors in these strategic destinations reflects an urgent need to expand export markets, address technical barriers, and strengthen policy advisory capacity for the agriculture and environment sector.

According to the orientation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, agricultural counselors will coordinate with specialized units to update import regulations, promote market opening, and address issues related to quarantine measures and food safety standards. At the same time, they will help expand the application of science and technology models, support trade promotion conferences, connect businesses, and strengthen cooperation in environment-related areas such as land resources, water resources, and biodiversity.

Representing the group of counselors, Mr. Do Quang Tung, Agricultural Counselor in China, said the team has proactively worked with 22 units under the Ministry to receive technical assignments and identify key areas of coordination.

Accordingly, the counselors have defined clear priority tasks to support sector growth targets. They will focus on stabilizing their respective postings, establishing and expanding networks with regulatory agencies, associations, enterprises, and partners in host countries.

“Based on the direction and consultation from units within the Ministry, we will regularly report, seek guidance, and promptly update any emerging issues in order to coordinate their handling,” said Agricultural Counselor Do Quang Tung.

Mr. Huynh Tan Dat, Director General of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, noted that the proportion of agricultural exports to China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea is very large, while technical requirements are becoming increasingly stringent.

“These countries are continuously updating new quarantine regulations, so it is particularly important to closely monitor and stay ahead in order to provide early notifications to domestic stakeholders. Trade-related issues must be handled proactively; we should not wait until the partner country issues regulations before we respond,” he said. He also suggested establishing specific contact focal points for each sector in host countries to shorten the time needed to resolve shipments facing difficulties.

In the livestock and veterinary sector, Director General Duong Tat Thang said agricultural counselors should play a bridging role across sectors, supporting negotiations and the rapid handling of quarantine procedures and food safety requirements.

Mr. Nguyen Van Long, Director General of the Department of Science and Technology, emphasized the role of agricultural counselors in connecting science and technology cooperation, particularly as many countries are accelerating the application of core technologies and artificial intelligence in agriculture, and stressed the need to quickly access new technological models in traceability systems.

Roling in trade, investment, and science-technology connectivity

Deputy Minister Hoang Trung underscored that the responsibilities of the agricultural counselors have been clearly defined this time, with a strong requirement for substantive work and measurable results.

“If you are a trade attaché, the outcomes must be measurable and assessable. To boost export growth, we must proactively go ahead in addressing and resolving technical barriers in target markets,” the Deputy Minister said.

According to the Deputy Minister, the first task is to closely coordinate with all units within the Ministry and relevant agencies to promptly address any emerging issues. The second task is to promote investment cooperation and proactively seek suitable funds, programs, and cooperation channels aligned with Vietnam’s conditions to attract investment into each sector of the industry.

In addition, agricultural counselors are required to actively promote the development and implementation of cooperation agreements, from MOUs to bilateral agreements, ensuring that the content of cooperation delivers practical benefits for the country.

In particular, the Deputy Minister requested that the attaché system rapidly update the latest changes in import policies, quarantine regulations, food safety standards, and residue requirements in host countries, so that timely information can be relayed back to Viet Nam.

The Ministry’s leadership also proposed the early establishment of a dedicated mechanism and specific regulations for the agricultural attaché network to ensure effective coordination between the Ministry and Vietnam’s overseas representative missions.

The effectiveness of the counselors’ work will be assessed directly through tangible progress in each assigned region, particularly in their ability to remove market barriers, promote exports, and expand cooperation in the agricultural sector.

Mr. Do Quang Tung appointed Agricultural Counselor to China

Mr. Do Quang Tung shared that being entrusted with the responsibility of Agricultural Counselor in China is a great honor and also a very heavy political task, in the context of the agriculture and environment sectors accelerating international integration, aiming for sustainable development and affirming the position of Vietnamese agricultural products in the global market.

“The focus will be on promoting scientific and technological exchange, capacity building, sharing management experience, forest protection and nature conservation. Supporting the development of trade in timber and non-timber products. Strengthening information sharing and coordination at international forums, while contributing to the effective handling of issues arising in bilateral cooperation,” Mr. Do Quang Tung shared, while expressing his hope to continue receiving the attention and guidance of the Ministry's leadership and the cooperation of relevant units to successfully complete the assigned tasks.

Mr. Vu Cuong appointed Agricultural Counselor to Japan

Under Decision No. 1578/QĐ-BNG, Vu Cuong, Head of the Market Development Division under the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), has been assigned to a diplomatic posting at the Embassy of Viet Nam in Japan, where he will serve as Agricultural Counselor.

Mr. Vu Cuong, a native of Nghia Tru Commune, Hung Yen Province, holds a bachelor's degree in International Economics from Foreign Trade University in Hanoi and a master's degree in International Economics from Keio University.

He has more than 25 years of experience in market development, trade promotion, and international cooperation. Before joining the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), the newly appointed Counselor held various positions at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, including Deputy Director General of the Asia-Pacific Market Department and Viet Nam’s Trade Counselor to Myanmar.

Since 2019, he has successively served as Head of the Livestock Products Market Development Division, Head of the International Cooperation and Communications Division, and Head of the Market Development Division under the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development.

Mr. Bui Hai Nam appointed Agricultural Counselor to South Korea

Under Decision No. 1577/QĐ-BNG, Bui Hai Nam, Principal Researcher and Deputy Director General of the Sub-National Institute of Agricultural Planning and Projection under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, has been assigned to a diplomatic posting at the Embassy of Viet Nam in South Korea, where he will serve as Agricultural Counselor.

Born in 1979 and originally from Truong Thi Ward, Ninh Binh Province, Mr. Bui Hai Nam holds a Master of Science degree in Regional and Rural Development Planning from Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), as well as an advanced degree in political theory.

With more than 20 years of service at the Sub-National Institute of Agricultural Planning and Projection, he has held a range of technical and managerial positions, from researcher to Head of the International Cooperation and Project Management Division. Since August 2024, he has served as Deputy Director General of the Sub-National Institute of Agricultural Planning and Projection under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

Throughout his career, Mr. Nam has directly participated in and coordinated numerous agricultural cooperation programs between Viet Nam and South Korea, working with partners such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), the Korea Rural Community Corporation (KRC), and the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI).