Collaboration with the Australian Meat and Cattle Association aims to implement the project “Improving animal welfare in Vietnam” from 2020 to 2023
Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien met with a delegation of Australian Senators to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector.
“The two agriculture sectors of Vietnam and Australia complement each other. Both countries produce high-quality agricultural, forestry, and fishery products. Vietnamese shrimp products have always strived to build a biosafety zone for the Vietnam Australia shrimp farming area” said Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien.
An exchange program in the field of technology and a farm visit to Northern Australia have been coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Northern Australian Farmers’ Association regarding bilateral cooperation activities. Collaboration with the Australian Meat and Cattle Association to implement the project “Improving animal welfare in Vietnam” from 2020 to 2023 and build 02 concentrated animal slaughtering areas in Long An and Quang Ninh.
A project to link farmer production activities into the beef supply chain in Vietnam was also implemented through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s collaboration with the University of Tasmania. In March 2023, the Ministry also coordinated with the Australian embassy to organize a seminar on trade promotion and Vietnamese-Australian cuisine.
Together with the German and Swiss governments, the Australian government supports the project “Adapting to climate change in the Mekong Delta” to strengthen water security and respond to climate change. The project aims to improve the management and use of land, water, and mangroves in coastal areas of the Mekong Delta in order to adapt to climate change. In addition, the Australian Government supports Vietnam in carrying out activities and series of events on disaster prevention and emergency response in the ASEAN region.
In the field of agricultural scientific research, the Australian International Agricultural Research Organization and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have collaborated on the project “Support for greenhouse gas inventory and development of solutions.” The two sides are completing procedures to sign a cooperation agreement on “Beef supply chain” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from wet rice farming in Vietnam.
In August 2017, the Australian Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Australian Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries signed a “Memorandum of Understanding on Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing” to combat legal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities. In addition to strengthening bilateral relations in depth, the Memorandum of Understanding lays the groundwork for regular cooperation between the two governments in addressing illegal fishing by vessels flying the flags of the two countries.
To promote open markets for agricultural products in both countries, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien suggested strengthening cooperation between the quarantine agencies for animals, plants, and aquatic animals, the Australian agricultural counselor, and the Department of International Cooperation. In his request to the Australian side, Phung Duc Tien asked them to coordinate and create favorable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to invest in Australia. In order to increase efficiency and impact for the agricultural sector, both sides must be focused on grants and research cooperation.
