Vietnam and Japan promote cooperation to cultivate a high-qualified agricultural management workforce

Minister Do Duc Duy welcomed and discussed with Mr. Tsutomu Takebe, a distinguished Member of the Council of Vietnam - Japan University and former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan.

During the meeting, Minister Do Duc Duy highlighted the indispensable role of agriculture as the backbone of Vietnam’s economy. Despite contributing 12% to the national GDP, the sector serves as the primary livelihood for nearly 10 million farming households and sustains employment for over 60% of the rural workforce.

Recognizing the urgency of advancing toward circular, green, organic, and climate-resilient agricultural practices, the Vietnamese government is actively driving transformative initiatives. Meanwhile, Japan, renowned for its cutting-edge advancements in sustainable agriculture, presents a wealth of untapped opportunities for deeper collaboration. The synergy between Vietnam’s agricultural ambitions and Japan’s technological prowess sets the stage for a dynamic partnership poised to elevate the sector to new heights.

Mr. Tsutomu Takebe proposed a comprehensive initiative to enhance agricultural collaboration between the two nations. This initiative involves the establishment of a specialized workforce, which will consist of Vietnamese managers, engineers, and researchers. This workforce will receive training in Japan on agricultural technology and techniques, with a particular emphasis on agribusiness management.  At the same time, he underscored the significance of the Vietnam-Japan University's expansion and advancement as a center for the exchange of human resources in the fields of agriculture and environmental science.

 Mr. Tsutomu Takebe emphasized Japan's substantial advantages in high-quality agricultural products and expressed his desire for concrete cooperation programs that would enable Japan to provide Vietnam with technological transfers, superior crop varieties, and expertise.  Ultimately, the goal is to establish a continuous value chain within the agricultural sector of Vietnam and enhance the country's capabilities in production, logistics, trade, and processing by producing world-class agricultural products.

 Minister Do Duc Duy highly valued Mr. Tsutomu Takebe's invaluable proposals, noting that Vietnam is currently executing its Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy for 2021-2030, with a Vision to 2050, which is based on three fundamental pillars: "Ecological Agriculture," "Modern Rural Areas," and "Smart Farmers."  Japan will serve as a benchmark model for Vietnam's future endeavors to cultivate a high-quality agricultural workforce.

 Minister Do Duc Duy expressed his optimism that Mr. Tsutomu Takebe would be instrumental in the development of strategic bilateral relations, given his current position within the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance and his extensive experience as the former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan.  These endeavors would establish the foundation for practical cooperation initiatives between the two nations.

 Additionally, it is expected that Mr. Tsutomu Takebe will act as a critical intermediary in the facilitation of investment flows, the strengthening of bilateral trade relations, and the support of the Ministry in the development of investment partnerships between Japanese and Vietnamese enterprises.  This collaboration will not only attract capital investment but also provide Vietnamese enterprises with access to new export markets and cutting-edge technology.

 Minister Do Duc Duy confirmed that Vietnam-Japan University will function as a critical conduit for the integration of Japan's advanced knowledge with Vietnam's educational and training requirements in relation to the proposed cooperation in technology transfer and training.  The institution will provide students and professionals in the agriculture and environmental sectors with the opportunity to utilize cutting-edge production technologies and sustainable management solutions.  Additionally, it will generate additional opportunities for research collaboration, employment, and internships, thereby guaranteeing that Vietnam's agricultural and environmental industries have a highly qualified workforce that is capable of adapting to the changing needs of the industry.