Viet Nam, Angola to launch joint agro-forestry project in 2026

On December 10 (local time), a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment visited the Angolan Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and held a working session.

The visit aimed to verify the commitments made by both sides following President Luong Cuong's high-level visit to Angola in August 2025, and to effectively implement the Action Plan for Agricultural Cooperation for the 2025-2030 period.

The Vietnamese delegation included members of the South-South Cooperation Working Group in Agriculture: leaders and officials from the National Agricultural Extension Center, the International Cooperation Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), and the Middle East - Africa Department (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Also present were Ambassador of Viet Nam to Angola, Duong Chinh Chuc, and Nghiem Thi Yen, First Secretary of the Vietnamese Embassy in Angola.

Authorized by the Minister, Dr. Anderson Jerónimo, General Director of the Department of Studies, Planning, and Statistics (GEPE), and representatives from agencies and units under the Angolan Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry welcomed the delegation.

According to Mr. Pham Ngoc Mau, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department and Head of the South-South Working Group, Viet Nam is always ready to cooperate and send skilled Vietnamese agricultural experts to Angola to develop and implement projects.

"We are ready to share experiences on sustainable agricultural development with Angola, specifically the models Vietnam has implemented recently with several African countries to ensure food security, provided that Angola makes a request and is prepared regarding the conditions," he stated.

Specifically, he proposed that the two sides could initiate programs such as: Exchanging of experts and technicians, improving technological processes, and agricultural extension, aiming for sustainable agricultural and forestry development through raw material zone development, smart cultivation, and high-quality plant varieties.

Viet Nam is ready to host and train delegations of technical staff, students, or young entrepreneurs from Angola in fields such as developing sustainable timber and cassava raw material areas, prioritizing rice cultivation.

He also proposed that Angola share its agricultural cooperation priorities, particularly the possibility of coordinating and implementing initiatives under South-South and Triangular Cooperation frameworks, with support from development partners.

At the meeting, Deputy Director Pham Ngoc Mau provided information on the official activities of the South-South Cooperation Working Group. This clearly affirms Viet Nam's role and commitment to the international community in promoting cooperation and supporting food security, especially for African nations.

Fourth, Viet Nam is ready to assist Angola in developing a comprehensive technical assistance project to promote the sustainable development of Angola's agricultural and forestry sectors, contributing to Angola's economic diversification and strengthening national food security.

Dr. Anderson Jerónimo highly praised the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment's current working visit, including its practical content, and affirmed that Angola is always ready to receive proposals for agricultural cooperation from Viet Nam. "We will send a delegation to the field with the Vietnamese side to survey and study cooperation potential, and to develop a feasible project proposal in the near future," said Dr. Anderson.

Concluding the meeting, both sides agreed to report the agreements reached today on the proposal to develop an agricultural cooperation project to their respective Ministers, serving as the basis for early implementation in 2026.