Minister Do Duc Duy outlines 9 key tasks of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment

Many officials put the collective benefit above their own interests

At the ceremony announcing the National Assembly's resolution on the establishment of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the decision on personnel affairs on the afternoon of March 1, Minister Do Duc Duy emphasized that this marks a significant milestone - the official formation and commencement of operations of the new Ministry.

"I am deeply moved to have been assigned by the Politburo, nominated by the Prime Minister for approval by the National Assembly, and appointed by the President as the first Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment," he shared, expressing gratitude for the attention and trust from the Party’s central leadership, the Politburo, the National Assembly, the Government, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

The Minister also thanked Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha for directly overseeing the merger process and for attending the ceremony to provide guidance, encouragement, and motivation to the Ministry’s leadership and affiliated units.

He extended his appreciation to all officials, civil servants, public employees, and workers of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment who have made great efforts to overcome difficulties and challenges, successfully completing the restructuring and organizational arrangements. This effort has led to the Ministry's official operation in accordance with Decree No. 35/2025/NĐ-CP.

"On behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, I commend the leaders of the affiliated units from both former ministries for their support and willingness to sacrifice personal interests, prioritizing the greater good to facilitate the appointment, restructuring, and consolidation of leadership positions in the newly merged Ministry," the Minister added.

According to Minister Do Duc Duy, in a very short period, Party committees, organizations, agencies, and units at all levels, particularly leaders and key officials, have demonstrated exemplary conduct, proactively and decisively carrying out their assigned tasks. They have identified priority tasks, coordinated effectively in execution, and swiftly implemented work under the principle of "building while operating."

"This is a challenging, sensitive, and complex task that directly impacts individuals within each organization. Therefore, it requires solidarity, consensus, and determination from each Party member, official, and public servant, who must be ready to set aside personal interests for the collective benefit of the agency, the sector, and the country," the Minister emphasized.

The first Minister of Agriculture and Environment noted that during the merger process, a total of 22 heads of departments from the former Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) have transitioned to deputy positions in the new Ministry. He viewed this as a result of close coordination, unity, and shared commitment to the common goal of successfully implementing the merger plan as directed by the Party Central Committee, the National Assembly, the Government, and the Prime Minister.

9 key tasks ahead

Regarding the establishment of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment through the merger of MARD and MONRE, Minister Do Duc Duy affirmed that this is a crucial step in administrative reform, aiming for a streamlined, effective, and efficient state apparatus.

"The merger is not merely a structural change but an opportunity to restructure, review, and enhance efficiency across all aspects of both ministries. It strengthens the integration between environmental protection and agricultural development, meteorology and disaster prevention, and agricultural production - fields that are inherently interconnected," the Minister stated.

Looking ahead, the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is committed to fostering unity and determination to overcome challenges and strive for the comprehensive achievement of the targets and tasks for 2025 and the entire term.

Minister Do Duc Duy outlined 9 key tasks for the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment: (i) Rapidly stabilize the organizational structure after the merger and consolidate the personnel and administrative system of its affiliated units; (ii) Continue focusing on the development and improvement of institutions, policies, and legal frameworks while advancing administrative reforms and improving the investment and business environment.

(iii) Address institutional and policy bottlenecks to unlock resources, especially land, for national socio-economic development.

(iv) Deeply integrate the principle that economic and social development and environmental protection are central priorities, recognizing the environment as one of the three pillars of sustainable development: Economy – Culture – Society – Environment. Based on this, effectively enforce the Environmental Protection Law, driving a breakthrough in environmental management, particularly in industrial zones, river basins, craft villages, and urban areas.

Implement adaptive models to enhance resilience, minimize losses and damages caused by climate change; modernize the meteorological and hydrological network, and improve the quality of forecasting and early warning systems to support disaster prevention and socio-economic development.

(v) Effectively implement national strategies, master plans, and sectoral plans, with a particular focus on the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.

(vi) Promote market access, strengthen value chains and production linkages, and continue to develop deep processing industries; focus on building and developing Vietnamese agricultural product brands and trademarks; strive to achieve the 4% growth target assigned by the National Assembly and the Government.

(vii) Accelerate digital transformation, develop digital resources, and complete the land database system integrated with the national population database.

(viii) Strengthen the Party's leadership in state management of agriculture and the environment. Effectively conduct public communication to ensure high consensus in awareness and action within each Party organization regarding organizational restructuring and professional task implementation. This will foster unity and determination in successfully implementing the Resolutions of the 13th National Party Congress, preparing for Party congresses at all levels, and making thorough preparations for the 14th National Party Congress.

(ix) Focus on implementing and evaluating the results of the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction for the 2021-2025 period and prepare reports for higher authorities to seek approval for the National Target Programs for the 2026-2030 period, ensuring quality, progress, and sufficient resources for the next phase of the program.

"The tasks ahead for the agriculture and environment sector in 2025 and beyond are extremely demanding. However, I firmly believe that all officials, civil servants, and employees of the Ministry will continue to uphold our valuable traditions, unite in solidarity, and strive to overcome challenges. By swiftly stabilizing the organizational structure, we will work together to ensure that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment operates efficiently from its inception, maintains development momentum, and progresses steadily toward new heights," the Minister emphasized.