Two decades of broadening international cooperation

As someone who has witnessed the development of Viet Nam’s agricultural diplomacy from the early days of integration, Mr. Tran Kim Long - former Director General of the International Cooperation Department (ICD - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) clearly remembers every step of the process that brought Vietnamese agriculture onto the global stage.

Shifting mindsets through international cooperation

Mr. Long began working at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the late 1990s, when Viet Nam had just emerged from the difficult post-subsidy period and was expanding its cooperation with international organizations. Starting as a foreign affairs officer, he gradually took part in negotiating, preparing, and implementing numerous international cooperation projects before assuming the role of Director General of ICD - the Ministry’s focal point for foreign relations. Over more than two decades, he directly coordinated programs attracting ODA funding, bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and participated in numerous international negotiation delegations in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and the environment.

In the early 2000s, as Viet Nam accelerated its WTO accession and signed its first FTAs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development faced an urgent need to secure new resources to modernize production, infrastructure, and institutions. The merger of several agencies into MARD created a multi-sector management hub, covering crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry, irrigation, and rural development but also posed significant challenges in terms of capital, science and technology, and human resources.

"At that time, we were still inexperienced, hesitant, and lacked capacity," Mr. Long recalled. "But through participation and learning, the Ministry gradually took the initiative to build and enhance its capacity, eventually selecting and sending high-quality agricultural negotiation teams capable of meeting the demands of free trade agreements."

He recounted that at one point, ICD had over 50 staff members, yet “even with a large team, there was still not enough manpower to handle all the work.” Many officers simultaneously learned foreign languages, translated documents, and adjusted work processes to meet international standards. “History shapes mindset,” he said. "Every project, every signed agreement was a process of learning and growth."

According to estimates from the ICD, in the first two decades of the 21st century, MARD mobilized nearly USD 10 billion in concessional loans from the World Bank, ADB, FAO, JICA, IFAD, AFD… along with hundreds of millions of USD in non-reimbursable aid. At the same time, nearly USD 5 billion in FDI was attracted to sectors such as processing, forestry, livestock, and fisheries, contributing to increased productivity, value, and competitiveness of Vietnamese agriculture.

“It can be said that during that period, international cooperation was the lifeblood nourishing the entire process of agricultural reform,” Mr. Long shared.

The international cooperation programs and projects of this period not only provided financial resources but also played a crucial role in transforming the sector’s management mindset. The World Bank (WB) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) focused on supporting Viet Nam in improving institutions, policies, and rural infrastructure investments. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) promoted sustainable agricultural models, climate adaptation, and strengthened the technical capacity of Vietnamese staff. Meanwhile, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), and Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) concentrated on supporting livelihoods and enhancing the role of local communities in planning, implementing, and monitoring rural development projects.

One of the most notable achievements of this period was the Forestry Sector Support Partnership (FSSP), established in 2001 as a multi-stakeholder collaboration between MARD and international donors. Through FSSP, the forestry sector gradually developed management manuals, monitoring systems, and completed its legal framework, including the 2004 amendment to the Law on Forest Protection and Development, the establishment of the Timber Forest Fund (TFF), and support for implementing the Decree on Payment for Forest Environmental Services - all critical foundations for today’s forest-based economic development.

The partnership also served as a bridge to introduce advanced forest governance tools into Viet Nam, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification and FLEGT licenses, that verify the legality of exported timber to the European Union. Thanks to these collaborations, Viet Nam’s forestry sector has now established a relatively complete legal and operational system, enabling Vietnamese wood products to compete fairly in international markets.

According to Mr. Long, "These projects not only transferred technical know-how but also taught us long-term thinking, value chain organization, and transparent monitoring."

Alongside capital and technical support, Viet Nam gradually shifted from being an aid recipient to a knowledge-sharing country. Through South-South Cooperation programs funded by FAO and JICA, many Vietnamese experts have assisted countries in Africa, Cuba, Laos, and Myanmar in agriculture, fisheries, and livestock production.

One of the most memorable experiences was a 2006 mission to Nigeria, where a Vietnamese expert delegation was invited to redesign a large-scale agricultural farm. Although the project was not officially signed due to institutional differences, the delegation’s systematic, practical, and innovative approach left a strong impression on the host country.

From such experiences, Viet Nam has been recognized by the international community as a reliable development partner, ready to contribute to global agricultural programs.

From integration to co-creation

According to Mr. Long, the current period presents new demands for agricultural diplomacy: moving from traditional ODA attraction to green investment, technology transfer, and emission reduction. However, he believes that both ODA and FDI flows still need to be maintained in parallel, as "they complement each other, helping to build a modern, globally competitive, and environmentally friendly agricultural sector."

He emphasized that the key to maintaining effective international cooperation lies in human resources. “International cooperation officers must continuously learn, be proficient in their fields and foreign languages, and, above all, uphold professional ethics,” he said. "In this work, words must be matched by actions, because every word and every action reflects the image of our country."

Over the past twenty years, international cooperation has become a crucial pillar helping the agriculture and rural development sector transform from small-scale production to a commodity-based agricultural economy, and from an aid recipient to an active partner in numerous global initiatives on food security, climate adaptation, and emission reduction.

“In a world full of uncertainties, agricultural diplomacy is not only a tool to mobilize resources but also a way for Viet Nam to assert its position and responsibilities in the international community,” Mr. Long said.

Building on the foundations established by generations of international cooperation officers, Viet Nam’s agriculture sector today is entering a deeper stage of integration, where ODA, FDI, and green cooperation programs continue to drive the transformation toward a modern, efficient, and sustainable agricultural sector.