Vietnam - Argentina: Potential for the export of agriculture products

According to Deputy Minister Le Quoc Doanh, in 2020, despite having many difficulties caused by Covid-19, the bilateral trade turnover still reached USD 3.95 billion, up 4.3% compared to 2019. Argentina is currently Vietnam’s third largest trading partner in South America (after Brazil and Mexico).

As shared by Ambassador Luis Pablo Maria Beltramino, the agriculture trade between Vietnam and Argentina has been developing efficiently. Argentina's main export products to Vietnam include soybeans, animal feed, cotton... Moreover, Ambassador Luis Pablo Maria Beltramino also mentioned the active cooperation in technology exchange between Vietnam and Argentina from 1998 until the present date. Argentina has been focusing on research programs concerning diseases on livestock, dairy products, and rice.     

"Currently, we are interested in Vietnam’s tropical fruits and hope that Vietnam can help them acquire more knowledge about these products," added Mr. Beltramino.

Argentina has opened the door for 4 kinds of Vietnamese fruits: lychee, longan, mango and dragon fruit. The Argentine Ambassador emphasized the importance of having an information gateway with the Plant Protection Department and the Department of Animal Health (Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), proposed Vietnam create favorable conditions for the trading of pork, beef, and citrus fruits and for technology certifications for products made from cow's organs as well.

"As we all know, the impacts of Covid-19 during the previous year were very complicated. Nevertheless, our agriculture sector still experienced good growth of 2.6%... Vietnam has always actively participated in international integration. We have established agricultural relationships with about 190 countries and territories", said Mr. Le Minh Hoan. In regard to the commerce between Vietnam and Argentina, Deputy Minister Le Quoc Doanh appreciated the comments of Ambassador Luis Pablo Maria Beltramino and affirmed that the cooperation in agricultural products between the two countries possesses great potential, highlighted that the products of both sides should not be competitive but complementary instead. 

However, Deputy Minister Le Quoc Doanh also emphasized the disparity in the agricultural trade balance between Vietnam and Argentina. "The export value of Vietnam's agricultural products each year is only about USD 3 million, while the import value from Argentina is approximately USD 3 billion - a 1,000 times difference". The Deputy Minister suggested that the two sides would work to gradually help the import and export value of agricultural products become more harmonious.

As claimed by Mr. Le Quoc Doanh, Vietnam currently has many products that can meet Argentina’s consumption demand such as catfish, shrimp, tropical fruits, and especially wood products and furniture.

Moreover, the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also mentioned that both sides should have more cooperation in the field of science and technology in terms of biotechnology, seedlings, livestock…; develop programs in the future to exchange knowledge and experience; encourage more investment in this field.

Ambassador Beltramino recommended Vietnam to widen export products’ diversity, including tropical fruits as mentioned above, coffee, beans, etc. He will also contact the Vietnam Embassy in Argentina in order to connect and exchange information with Argentine importers.