MAE establishes South - South Cooperation Working Group

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has issued Decision No. 3786/QĐ-BNNMT on the establishment of the Working Group on South - South Cooperation in agriculture.

According to Decision No. 3786, the Head of the Working Group is Dr. Pham Ngoc Mau, Deputy Director General of the International Cooperation Department, along with one Deputy Head, one officer from the International Cooperation Department, one representative from the National Agricultural Extension Center, and one representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Sharing the Working Group’s operational orientation, Mr. Pham Ngoc Mau emphasized agricultural cooperation based on equal partnership, economic efficiency, and mutual benefit. Viet Nam will share its experience stemming from existing advantages, applying simple and flexible farming practices that help reduce input costs while maintaining high production efficiency.

"With our long-standing agricultural experience and tradition, Viet Nam seeks to demonstrate its international responsibility through the South - South Cooperation mechanism. We are confident in taking on the role of providing technical solutions, technologies, experts, crop varieties, agricultural inputs, and project management skills. Partner countries will be the recipients and beneficiaries of this support," Mr. Mau said.

According to the decision, the Working Group is tasked with developing long-term and annual strategies and action plans on South - South cooperation in the fields of agriculture, rural development, and environment. The Group will propose cooperation programs and projects with many developing countries, especially in regions such as the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and South America, where there is strong demand for experience exchange, technical transfer, and capacity development in agriculture.

One of the core objectives of the Working Group is to promote South - South and Triangular Cooperation programs, thereby supporting developing countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Group is also assigned to establish a unified mechanism to manage, coordinate, and make effective use of cooperation resources; to develop and transfer production processes that carry the Vietnamese brand; and to enhance Viet Nam’s credibility and standing through its experts participating in international projects.

The Working Group will serve as a bridge between domestic and international agencies and organizations, working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FAO, JICA, the EU, and relevant partners to implement cooperation initiatives. Activities focused on sharing experience and transferring advanced technologies in agricultural production, natural resource management, and environmental protection will be strengthened through training programs, workshops, and capacity-building efforts for partner countries.

In addition, the Group will also coordinate with media agencies to disseminate information on South - South cooperation policies and orientations; organize workshops, conferences, exhibitions, and forums to promote professional exchange in the fields of agriculture and environment, develop green, organic, and circular agriculture, and advance value-chain linkage models, geographical indication - based production, and product traceability.

The establishment of the Working Group is expected to provide a foundation for Viet Nam to expand cooperation, share experiences, and make practical contributions to agricultural development, food security, and sustainable development among countries across the Global South.