Viet Nam and Ireland have taken steps to deepen bilateral cooperation in sustainable agriculture and cooperative development following a high-level visit by the Viet Nam Cooperative Alliance (VCA) to Dublin aimed at strengthening institutional partnerships and exchanging best practices in green economic development.
Led by VCA Chairwoman Cao Xuan Thu Van, the delegation engaged with representatives from Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Sustainable Food Systems Ireland (SFSI) to explore opportunities for collaboration in building resilient, innovation-driven cooperative ecosystems.
Discussions focused on Ireland's Food Vision 2030, the country's long-term strategy for developing a sustainable agri-food sector through stronger collaboration among government, cooperatives and private enterprises. The Vietnamese delegation examined how policy support, innovation and green transition initiatives have helped position Ireland as one of the world's leading high-value agricultural economies.
The meetings also highlighted Ireland's framework for strengthening cooperative governance, encouraging innovation, improving quality standards and aligning agricultural production with stringent European market requirements. Both sides explored future cooperation in capacity building, technical exchanges and the development of pilot cooperative models tailored to Viet Nam's agricultural landscape.
As part of the engagement, the Vietnamese delegation showcased the Total Feeling project developed by the Sai Gon Green Economy Cooperative, a specialty coffee initiative that combines agroforestry practices, biodiversity conservation and end-to-end product traceability. The project attracted interest for its sustainability-focused production model and its potential to meet growing demand in Europe's premium coffee market.
The delegation also met officials at the Embassy of Viet Nam in Ireland to discuss mechanisms for expanding collaboration between Vietnamese cooperatives and Irish government agencies, research institutions and businesses. Key areas of interest included sustainable agriculture, innovation, trade promotion and improving access to European Union markets.
The VCA emphasized the importance of strengthening international partnerships that can support Vietnamese cooperatives with market intelligence, regulatory guidance, import standards and commercial opportunities, helping improve the competitiveness of the country's collective economy.
According to the alliance, the visit has opened new avenues for bilateral cooperation while providing valuable insights into Ireland's cooperative-driven agricultural model, which has played a central role in developing globally recognized food brands and creating high-value agri-food supply chains.
With a population of just over five million, Ireland has established itself as a global benchmark for cooperative-led agricultural development, demonstrating how close collaboration among farmers, businesses and government can enhance product value, strengthen rural economies and promote long-term sustainability. Viet Nam aims to adapt elements of this model to accelerate the modernization and international competitiveness of its own cooperative sector.
