Promoting agricultural trade: Vietnam ready to provide stable rice supply to Egypt

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam emphasized that when Vietnam and Egypt agree on trade cooperation, Vietnam commits to ensuring sufficient supply for the needs of the other side.

The quality of Vietnamese rice is affirmed when this product is now present in more than 150 countries and territories.

The quality of Vietnamese rice is confirmed when this product is now available in more than 150 countries and territories. When Vietnam and Egypt agreed on trade cooperation, Vietnam committed to ensuring sufficient supply to meet the needs of the other side.

The above information was given by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam at the meeting and working session with Mr. Adham Omar - Charge d'Affaires of the Egyptian Embassy in Vietnam.

Huge room for agricultural trade development

According to Mr. Nam, the recent state visit of President Luong Cuong to Egypt has brought about important results, in which agriculture is one of the cooperation contents.

Immediately after the visit, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment was tasked with researching and consulting ideas for the signing of an agricultural trade agreement with the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land.

“We completely agree with this initiative,” Mr. Nam said, emphasizing that there is huge room for agricultural trade development between the two countries, while the current agricultural import-export turnover is less than 50 million USD, accounting for a very small proportion of the total trade turnover of more than 500 million USD.

Leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment said that Vietnam has strengths in seafood, coffee and rice, while Egypt is an important source of cotton and fertilizer.

He also noted that due to the long geographical distance and similar climatic conditions (the other side also produces some of Vietnam's key products such as mango and dragon fruit), fresh fruit is not a strong export product of Vietnam to Egypt. However, Vietnam is promoting the opening of the market for rice to Egypt.

Previously, at the Second Meeting of the Vietnam-Egypt Trade and Industry Cooperation Subcommittee in August 2021, the Egyptian side proposed support in opening the market for fertilizers. The Vietnamese side informed about the promotion of organic fertilizers.

“The two Ministries of Agriculture have signed a memorandum of understanding on technical cooperation in the fields of fisheries and agriculture, but have not mentioned much about the trade aspect. We hope to discuss with Egypt to reach an agreement to focus on agricultural trade, especially key products that both sides have strengths and demand for,” Mr. Nam emphasized.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam presented OCOP gifts to Chargé d'Affaires of the Egyptian Embassy in Vietnam Adham Omar.

Will there be a separate agreement on rice?

Adham Omar, Charge d'Affaires of the Egyptian Embassy in Vietnam, said Egypt is implementing a green agriculture development strategy and attaches importance to establishing long-term relationships with partners with stable supply capacity.

“We appreciate Vietnam's socio -economic development achievements and agricultural export capacity, especially rice and seafood products,” said Mr. Adham Omar.

The Charge d'Affaires of the Egyptian Embassy in Vietnam recalled that in 2018, when the Egyptian President visited Vietnam, the two countries signed an agreement on agricultural cooperation, and now the opportunity is opening up for the two sides to move towards signing a new memorandum of understanding, focusing on rice trade.

Over the past 10 years, Egypt has also carried out land reclamation, expanding the cultivated area by a quarter and gradually increasing production. Some of the committed products are eligible for export, but the country still has to import rice due to high consumption demand.

Therefore, Mr. Adham Omar said that in order for agricultural trade to develop, the two sides need to carefully consider price factors, competitiveness, tariff and non-tariff conditions.

Accordingly, the Charge d'Affaires of the Egyptian Embassy in Vietnam proposed that the two sides establish a joint working group, regularly connect online, with the participation of competent authorities to have deeper exchanges, quickly resolve difficulties and promote effective cooperation.

Agreeing with the above viewpoint, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam assigned the Department of International Cooperation (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) to be the focal point for coordination with the Egyptian side. In addition, Mr. Nam also emphasized the importance of agreeing on the time to sign the letter of intent and suggested considering the possibility of having a separate agreement on rice.

“The quality of Vietnamese rice is confirmed as it is now available in more than 150 countries and territories,” Mr. Nam emphasized, asking Egypt to study the annual rice import demand. On that basis, when the two sides agree on trade cooperation, Vietnam commits to ensuring sufficient supply for the needs of the other side.

In the immediate future, Mr. Nam said that the Egyptian Embassy can introduce businesses interested in importing rice to connect with the Vietnamese side, thereby building a feasible agreement.

In addition to rice, the leader of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment said that Egypt also wants Vietnam to "open up" some more types of fruit. To date, Egyptian fresh grapes have been approved for plant quarantine and can be exported to Vietnam.

Along with grapes, Egypt also proposed that Vietnam “open” the next priority market for potatoes, dates and fresh pomegranates. Accordingly, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam suggested that Egypt soon issue a document defining the priority order so that both sides can expedite procedures.

“To make agricultural trade cooperation more practical, nothing is more effective than connecting businesses directly. We propose to organize a forum to promote agricultural products, creating opportunities for businesses from both countries to meet, exchange needs and cooperation possibilities,” said Mr. Nam.

vietnamplus.vn

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/thuc-day-thuong-mai-nong-san-viet-nam-san-sang-cung-ung-gao-on-dinh-cho-ai-cap-post882828.html