- Vietnam pushes trade, training, and human resource ties with Australia.
- Deputy Minister highlights carbon reduction, tech transfer, and aquaculture.
- Proposal for Vietnam Agricultural Trade Promotion Centre in Australia.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in collaboration with the Vietnamese Consulate General in Sydney, on August 21 organized the “Vietnam – Australia Forum on trade promotion, cooperation in training and human resources development in agriculture and environment.”
The event occurred during a working trip to Australia by a delegation from the ministry, headed by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam, along with members from Vietnamese educational institutions and businesses.
At the opening, Consul General Nguyen Thanh Tung emphasized the significance of the event in turning the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations into tangible collaboration, particularly in agriculture, which is essential for food security, sustainable development, and enhanced living standards.
He observed that Vietnamese agricultural goods are establishing a more solid presence in the Australian market, aiding in a more balanced trade relationship. The Consulate General actively supports businesses, eliminates technical obstacles, promotes brands, encourages research partnerships, and develops sustainable supply chains.
Based on its practical experience, the Consulate General suggested that the ministry and pertinent agencies improve support methods for businesses, create consistent information channels, and think about setting up a Vietnam Agricultural Trade Promotion Centre in Australia. It also recommended creating specialized logistics networks, enhancing cold storage and distribution centers in Sydney and Melbourne, and boosting the marketing of Vietnamese agricultural goods.
Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam emphasized that in this era of green consumption and sustainable living, Vietnam and Australia enhance each other in agricultural production. The Vietnamese Government is dedicated to lowering emissions in manufacturing and is currently collaborating with international organizations on carbon evaluation and certification, he stated.
The official highlighted significant opportunities for collaboration in technology transfer, especially concerning agriculture and environmental conservation. He urged Australian companies, universities, and vocational institutions to collaborate with Vietnam on technology transfer, fostering trade suited to local circumstances, enhancing high-quality human resource development, and reinforcing school-business training frameworks.
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Nam also promoted Australian investment in Vietnam’s aquaculture industry, highlighting that both nations possess marine economic benefits, extensive coastal regions, and significant expertise in the blue economy.
Susan Kahwati, who manages the green economy, agriculture, and food sectors at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), characterized the forum as a significant advancement in strengthening economic relationships.
She highlighted that Vietnam is a vibrant and varied economy, a regional center for manufacturing with significant agricultural capabilities, a youthful demographic, and a quick pace of digital adoption.
In the coming twenty years, Southeast Asia is expected to experience substantial growth, with Vietnam playing a major role. Australia, leveraging its strengths in agriculture, food, resources, green energy, infrastructure, education, skills, and digital economy, seeks to become a reliable partner in Vietnam's ambitious growth narrative, Kahwati remarked.