Vietnam and Indonesia promote cooperation on aquaculture and legal fishing

On March 10, within the framework of Vietnam’s Party General Secretary To Lam’s visit to Indonesia, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien participated in a bilateral meeting with Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien expressed his appreciation for the cordial reception that the Indonesian Ministry and State extended to the delegation of the Party General Secretary and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment at the outset of the meeting.

 According to the Deputy Minister, the state visit of the Party leadership of Vietnam and the bilateral meeting between the leaders of the two ministries were held in honor of Vietnam's 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Indonesia.  In 1955, Indonesia became the initial Southeast Asian nation to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam.

 Currently, Indonesia is Vietnam's second-largest trading partner in ASEAN, with bilateral trade totaling UDS 16.7 billion in 2024, a 21.6% increase from 2023.  By 2028, both nations have established a goal of achieving a trade volume of USD 18 billion.

 Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien and Indonesia's Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, reached an agreement during the meeting on a number of critical areas of collaboration, such as tuna farming, seaweed aquaculture, and juvenile lobster.

 On this occasion, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien called for the support of Indonesia's Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries in the promotion of cooperation and the development of a sustainable fisheries industry that is indicative of the robust relationship between the two countries.  He also requested that the marine sector leadership in Indonesia continue to direct relevant agencies to improve and broaden cooperation in the fields of science, technology, and fisheries trade.

In the context of juvenile lobster, both parties reached a consensus to establish a close partnership in the areas of disease control and the export of juvenile lobsters to Vietnam.  In terms of seaweed cooperation, Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Indonesia’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries will collaborate on scientific and technological research, the import and export of high-quality seaweed varieties, and seaweed processing technology.  The two nations agreed to establish a cooperation mechanism for marine tuna farming and to designate their respective agencies to further debate and implement specific projects in the context of tuna cooperation.

Furthermore, during the bilateral meeting, both parties consented to further cooperation in deep-sea fishing, which will enable Vietnamese fishing vessels to operate in Indonesia.  In order to guarantee the livelihoods of fishermen and maintain stable and sustainable fishing operations, the two nations will persist in communicating and sharing information regarding fisheries exploitation.

The Vietnamese government has been steadfast in its commitment to sustainable and responsible fisheries development, environmental protection, and marine biodiversity conservation, directing ministries, agencies, and localities to implement stringent measures against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.  Based on this foundation, Indonesia’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries will support and cooperate with Vietnam in aquaculture and legal fishing, aiming to lift the European Commission (EC) yellow card as soon as possible.