Ninh Thuan signs MoU with the Netherlands to collaborate on agricultural activities

Attracting investments

The Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Committee delegation recently visited the Netherlands and Germany as part of the Vietnamese locales promotion campaign. Their visit took place from June 16-24.

The purpose of the visit is to promote and present the investment opportunities in the province, specifically in the areas of high-tech agriculture, energy, renewable energy, logistics hub, processing industry, manufacturing, and tourism. The visit will also highlight the investment climate and showcase various projects that require investment.

In addition, it also provides possibilities for researching and studying the legislation pertaining to the importation of agricultural products in European nations, with the aim of promoting local agricultural exports. It also facilitates surveys and the exchange of experiences in organic and circular agricultural production and tourism.

Ninh Thuan provincial authorities state that Germany is the geographical heart of the European Union, housing the largest logistics hub in Europe and boasting highly modern transportation infrastructure that enables easy access to other markets in the region. Germany is a prominent global industrial nation, ranking third in terms of both exports and imports, after the United States and China.

Furthermore, the Netherlands market is widely recognized as a crucial corridor and transit hub for products destined for European markets. It effectively links ports and industrial districts to various parts of Europe. The Netherlands is the world's second largest agricultural exporter and supplies one-fourth of Europe's vegetable exports. The agriculture sector in the Netherlands is progressively prioritizing sustainability, the production of healthy and safe food supplies, and giving considerable attention to landscapes and the environment. The agricultural sector is characterized by its wide range of activities, including the rearing of livestock and the production of crops, both in controlled environments such as greenhouses and in open fields.

In addition, the Netherlands is currently witnessing a significant surge in the importation of agricultural commodities, particularly a diverse range of nuts and fresh fruits, with a specific emphasis on grapefruits. Additionally, the Netherlands ranks as the sixth largest importer of seafood items inside the European Union. Notably, developing nations serve as the primary providers of seafood to the Dutch market.

During a working session, Mr. Nguyen Long Bien, Vice Chairman of the Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Committee, expressed the province's desire to foster collaboration and attract investment in the agricultural sector. Ninh Thuan aims to receive and facilitate projects that involve the implementation of advanced scientific and technical production and processing technologies. The goal is to establish a sustainable agriculture system that is environmentally friendly and productive, while also generating employment opportunities, increasing income levels, and improving the overall well-being of the local population.

Mr. Nguyen Long Bien cordially invites the Vietnam – Netherlands Agribusiness Cooperation Association and its partners to visit and collaborate in Ninh Thuan province. The purpose of this visit is to facilitate meetings, exchange of information, and exploration of opportunities to harness the potential and strengths that both parties are interested in pursuing.

In 2023, the Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Committee approved the investment policy and accepted investors for 17 projects. These projects have a total registered capital of 989.1 billion VND. This brings the total number of approved investment policy projects in the province to 468, with a total registered capital of 198,594 billion VND. Out of all the sectors, the agricultural sector has 63 projects with a combined registered capital of 5,368.2 billion VND. At now, there are 48 projects in operation, 10 projects being implemented, and 5 projects undergoing investment procedures.

Strengthening collaboration in the field of agriculture

On June 17, the Ninh Thuan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Netherlands-Vietnam Agribusiness Cooperation Association (Kingdom of the Netherlands) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the City Hall of the Westland urban area. The purpose of the MOU is to foster collaboration between Vietnamese localities and Dutch businesses in the areas of crop cultivation and food production.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) seeks to form a partnership between the parties in order to promote cooperation and create numerous collaborative opportunities in the field of agriculture. This will be achieved through the organization of conferences, seminars, and debates to evaluate the practicality of ideas and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and enterprises between the two sides.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is structured into five distinct phases:

The parties will acquire a thorough comprehension of the objectives, concerns, and shared advantages in order to determine collaboration.

Elucidate the specific interests and responsibilities of each partner involved in the collaborative endeavor.

The two parties will engage in negotiations and ultimately come to a consensus over the course of collaboration.

The parties will finalize the specific details of their collaboration based on the agreements made in the previous stages.

Once a consensus is reached, the parties will then proceed to the precise execution of the agreement. Effective process management will be essential in evaluating the progress towards the common goals, determining if the goals are still relevant, and ensuring that the benefits are completely achieved during the execution of the agreements. Continuous assessment and adjustment to the practical circumstances during the collaborative process are also necessary.

In addition, representatives will convene at regular intervals to evaluate progress and establish concrete strategies for the subsequent phases. When necessary, the parties will also be provided with assistance from the Vietnamese Embassy in the Netherlands and the Westland city council.