Vietnam targets $100 billion in agricultural exports

Speaking at the "2025 Conference on Promoting Agribusiness Exports", Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang stated that the agriculture sector is on track to meet all its targets for the year, including those for exports.

However, to sustain momentum and achieve the country's next phase of growth, continuous double-digit increases from 2026 to 2030, the agriculture sector and its exports must accelerate significantly. According to the Acting Minister, agribusiness exports in the coming years must aim for higher figures, potentially reaching USD 80, USD 90, or even over USD 100 billion.

To achieve these ambitious goals, Acting Minister Thang announced that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, along with other relevant ministries, will research and draft a new legal system designed to be highly effective and reform-oriented. The goal is to dramatically cut red tape for agribusiness exports, making regulations as simple as possible while still meeting the requirements of importing countries.

Addressing the issue of administrative hurdles, the Acting Minister urged industry associations, businesses, and producers to identify and report specific bottlenecks actively. He emphasized that those directly involved in production, business, and export are best positioned to pinpoint obstacles. He called on them to promptly submit recommendations and proposals to the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment, Foreign Affairs, and Industry and Trade, as well as local authorities, to ensure timely guidance and resolution.

Regarding export markets, Acting Minister Thang noted that information from industry associations, trade counselors, and ministries indicates significant growth potential for Vietnamese agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products in markets like the EU, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. He underscored the need for effective strategies to exploit and expand these markets and called for timely proposals and recommendations from industry associations and businesses.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam also stressed the importance of collaboration between industry associations, businesses, and state management agencies to develop raw material zones. He highlighted that these zones are crucial for establishing growing area codes, ensuring traceability, and controlling food safety, all of which are vital for meeting importing countries’ standards.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang commented on the importance of market diversification, stating that the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Industry and Trade, and Agriculture and Environment have been, and will continue to be, coordinated closely to create the legal and favorable conditions needed to open new markets.

She mentioned, for example, that the ministries have been pushing hard to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Mercosur bloc, with the goal of finalizing negotiations in 2025. The government is also working to launch negotiations for FTAs with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Africa, and Egypt, among others.

In addition to FTAs, she noted that the ministries continue negotiating cooperation agreements for specific agricultural goods, such as rice trade. She also highlighted the need for the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment and Foreign Affairs to collaborate on establishing agricultural cooperation frameworks, such as a strategic partnership on agriculture with certain African nations and partnerships on green and sustainable agriculture with developed countries.

Furthermore, Deputy Minister Hang revealed that the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Industry and Trade, and Agriculture and Environment are actively working to resolve export issues related to lawsuits and tax policies in importing countries. This includes coordinating to address the U.S. investigation into the Vietnamese timber industry and the anti-dumping case against frozen shrimp imported into the U.S. She stated that the ministries must use both technical-level negotiations and diplomatic and political influence through various channels and leaders to resolve these issues.

She also mentioned that the Ministry of Industry and Trade, as the lead negotiator, continues to work with other ministries to negotiate specific product agreements with the U.S. to help the country adapt to U.S. tariff policies.

Nguyen Anh Son, Director General of the Import and Export Department at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, urged the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to coordinate more closely on implementing FTAs and addressing issues that arise when countries impose tariffs on Vietnamese products. He also proposed that the two ministries sign a cooperation agreement and designate a focal point to ensure tighter collaboration.