Thailand expects Vietnam to impart its agriculture chain development expertise

The Minister of MARD, Le Minh Hoan, had a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand, Chalermchai Sri-on, on February 23.

Since the start of diplomatic ties, Vietnam and Thailand have achieved notable progress in the agricultural sector and rural development through their close collaboration in recent years. The enduring friendly ties between Vietnam and Thailand are duly acknowledged by both ministers, with a focus on the agricultural collaboration that is expected to yield substantial advantages for the populations of both nations.

Minister Le Minh Hoan conveyed profound admiration and support for Thailand's agricultural heritage and accomplishments throughout the exchange, with a specific emphasis on the nation's leadership in rural development in collaboration with its populace.

"Fortified agricultural communities in Thailand and Vietnam have been established on a historical relationship that has lasted for centuries. Crop varieties are frequently traded and exchanged between the two nations, particularly in the Mekong Delta area. Since be a local authority, I regularly to extended invitations to Thai enterprises to visit Dong Thap province with the purpose of technology transfer and knowledge exchange. I hope that both sides will continue to implement even more collaborative activities in the future," stated Minister Le Minh Hoan.

At present, Thailand is the most significant investor in Vietnam's agricultural sector and the most important trading partner within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); bilateral trade surpassed 20 billion USD in 2023, with agricultural products comprising approximately 10% of that value. Sustainable agricultural development is widely recognized as a significant catalyst for Thailand's economy.

Minister Chalermchai Sri-on highlighted the urgency for the leaders of both countries to expeditiously revise the Memorandum of Understanding concerning agricultural collaboration.

To ensure the sustainability of agriculture in the face of significant challenges such as climate change, natural resource constraints, labor shortages, trade tensions, and most recently, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Thailand and Vietnam must engage in bilateral dialogues. The Thai Minister expressed his optimism that the forthcoming visit of the Thai Prime Minister to Vietnam in April will witness the signing of the new memorandum, which would serve as a significant tribute from Thailand to the agricultural sector in Vietnam.

In particular, Mr. Chalermchai put forth a set of specific areas for collaboration: the prevention of transboundary animal diseases; the management of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities; the development of self-sufficiency initiatives for farmers in rural areas; and the facilitation of markets for buffalo, cattle, and eggs via suitable channels. Additionally, the chief of Thailand's agricultural sector proposed the establishment of bilateral joint ventures to facilitate the production and consumption of agricultural goods.

Furthermore, Thailand and Vietnam are two of the leading exporters of rice. Minister Chalermchai lauded the accomplishments of Vietnam's rice industry in 2023, including being awarded "World's Best Rice" and guaranteeing a rice supply to the region and the world despite the cessation of rice exports by other nations. As an illustration of the people's and government's unity, he hopes that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will be receptive to the exchange of knowledge regarding the development of the rice industry supply chain. He cites the "1 million hectares project for high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation in the Mekong Delta region" as such an instance.

Minister Le Minh Hoan responded by commending Thailand's proactive involvement with domestic committees, businesses, and farmers concerning proposals for cross-sector collaboration with Vietnam.

"Starting today, both parties will commence their work immediately." "This meeting signifies a substantial advancement, creating opportunities for collaboration between the two nations," Minister Le Minh Hoan declared, emphasizing his unwavering dedication to advancing agricultural cooperation.

In anticipation of the forthcoming visit of the Thai prime minister to Vietnam, both parties will advance market opening negotiations for specific products, including fruits, pomelos, star apple, eggs, and livestock products. In a forthcoming correspondence to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives intends to outline specific proposals for economic cooperation, community agricultural promotion, rural tourism, and the self-sufficiency capabilities of farmers.