Viet Nam, India agricultural trade aiming for higher turnover

On April 24, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Minister Trinh Viet Hung met and held talks with Indian Ambassador Tshering W. Sherpa to discuss the current state of cooperation in the agriculture - environment sector and orientations for strengthening bilateral relations in the coming time.

Elevating cooperation toward greater substance

At the meeting, Minister Trinh Viet Hung expressed his appreciation to the Indian side for proactively fostering connections, and conveyed his hope that both sides would continue to work closely together to promote agricultural trade, with a view to increasing export turnover between the two countries.

Congratulating the Minister on his new position, Ambassador Tshering W. Sherpa emphasized that agriculture plays a vital role for both Viet Nam and India, particularly in areas such as fisheries, food exports, and quality control.

The Ambassador acknowledged Viet Nam’s contributions to promoting agricultural exports and expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation would continue to expand. Both sides are currently interested in opening market access for several agricultural products. In particular, India hopes Viet Nam will facilitate the entry of Indian grapes into its market, while also promoting imports of Vietnamese durian, a fruit favored by consumers.

In the livestock sector, the Indian side noted that it has received support from Viet Nam in addressing barriers related to meat products. The Ambassador proposed that the Ministry soon approve additional Indian buffalo meat export facilities that have already been cleared by inspection teams from the Department of Animal Health and Production.

In addition, the Ambassador informed that India is planning to host the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) Summit this coming June, and expressed hope that Viet Nam would show interest and participate.

Regarding cooperation mechanisms, the Indian side expects both countries to continue promoting the activities of the Joint Working Group, while also considering upgrading the dialogue mechanism to the vice-ministerial level to further deepen agricultural cooperation.

Toward concrete results within one year

Acknowledging the proposals, Minister Trinh Viet Hung outlined three key priority areas to advance cooperation in the coming period.

First, in terms of coordination mechanisms, the Minister proposed continuing to enhance the effectiveness of the Joint Working Group and the agreed work programs, while reaching consensus on upgrading exchanges to the vice-ministerial level. He assigned relevant units to promptly advise on and develop specific cooperation plans on an annual, quarterly, and monthly basis within the framework of the Joint Working Group, and suggested that the Indian side designate a corresponding focal point to ensure effective coordination.

Regarding market access for agricultural products, the Minister noted that Viet Nam has sent a quarantine request for Indian grapes and urged the Indian side to respond promptly to meet the required technical standards. Conversely, the Minister highlighted the potential of Viet Nam’s key products such as pomelo, tea, and cinnamon. These items that are not only of high quality but also closely tied to the culinary traditions and culture of both countries.

In the livestock and fisheries sectors, the Minister stated that Viet Nam is currently one of the major markets for Indian buffalo meat and has already licensed several exporting enterprises in this field. However, authorities have identified a number of shipments that violated import regulations. The Minister called on the Indian side to urgently inspect, clarify the issues, and coordinate in handling them. At the same time, the Ministry will assign relevant agencies to continue reviewing and assessing additional facilities eligible to export buffalo meat to Viet Nam.

Concluding the meeting, Minister Trinh Viet Hung proposed that both sides continue coordinating with relevant ministries and agencies to enhance export turnover by improving quality and value. Within the next 6 to 12 months, the two sides should aim for concrete and clearly defined cooperation outcomes.

Ambassador Tshering W. Sherpa agreed with the proposals, emphasizing the need for thorough preparation and a focus on tangible results. He also acknowledged trade promotion efforts for tea and cinnamon products, and noted that he would assign the relevant Commercial Counsellor to work directly with concerned agencies.

The Ambassador expressed confidence that, with close coordination and clear direction, agricultural cooperation between Viet Nam and India will achieve practical results in the near future.