Attracting more RoK's technical support for Vietnamese agriculture industry

On April 4, a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development led by Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien met with Lee Byung Ho, Chairman of the Korean Rural Community Corporation (KRC), to discuss forthcoming agricultural cooperation.

KRC Group has been assisting the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in conducting a variety of projects in the fields of vegetable production and risk prevention capacity building, animal health dangers, new rural development, high-tech agricultural methods, and smart agriculture, among others as the agency that handles and uses funds for overseas expenditures. 

The KRC is providing non-refundable aid from the RoK government for five projects, including "Improve the capacity of the Central Veterinary Diagnostic Center" (2014-2018); "Supporting establishments for preliminary processing and preservation of agricultural products in Vietnam" (2019-2021); "Application of South Korean technology to produce disease-free potato varieties and develop sustainable potato value chains in Vietnam" (2020-2025); "Improving the rice value chain in the Red River Delta" (2021-2025); and "Supporting establishments for preliminary processing and preservation of agricultural products in Vietnam" (phase 2, 2022-2025).

Several initiatives have been conducted successfully, and a number of municipalities have suggested scaling up the project/model outcomes.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien informed Lee Byung Ho that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was completing the Medium and Long-term Vision Report on cooperation between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea in agriculture and rural development for the period 2022-2030.

This is a significant report that identifies possible areas of collaboration to optimize the two nations' comparative advantages, as well as diversifying kinds of cooperation and investment to increase efficiency and assure sustainability. Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien stated that the government was ready to share the report and was looking for additional agricultural cooperation.

The MARD leader also asked KRC to continue its assistance for the Vietnamese agriculture business in South Korea's stronghold areas.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien further pledged to direct relevant Vietnamese agencies to cooperate closely with KRC focal personnel at its Hanoi representative office to strengthen the role, cooperation, and effective administration of MARD ODA projects.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien also informed Lee Byung Ho that the Ministry of Planning and Investment of Vietnam had sent a Letter of Support to the RoK Embassy in Vietnam in support of two Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development proposals for projects "Improving productivity and strengthening the sesame value chain in Vietnam," with a total estimated capital of USD 4.962 million, and "Strengthening the meat supply chain," with a total estimated capital of USD 4.962 million.

While the former project aims to increase the prevention of flash floods and floods in Central Vietnam's key river basins by establishing natural disaster early warning systems. The latter focuses on increasing people's ability for catastrophe risk reduction and prevention through training and communication.

Lee Byung Ho said that the two suggestions had been considered and approved by the Korean government soon. 

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien urged Lee to assist the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in registering for and receiving non-refundable aid from the RoK Government to execute projects in agricultural and rural development to adapt to climate change and decrease catastrophe risks.

Specifically for two technical assistance projects in the period 2023-2025, including the project "Establishing the disaster early warning system in the main river basins of Central Vietnam" and the project "Establishing the disaster early warning system in the main river basins of Central Vietnam." "Improving disaster risk reduction and prevention capacity through training and communication."

The representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also requested that the Korean Rural Community Corporation works with the focal point of the International Cooperation Department to develop grant programs and projects to promote bilateral cooperation and strengthen trade in agriculture, forestry, and fishery between the two countries, as well as create favorable conditions for agricultural investment.