Wakayama people prefer fresh litchi and processed chicken from Vietnam

On July 28 at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri met with Governor Kishimoto Shuhei, Wakayama province (Japan), to visit and work.

The government and businesses of Wakayama province are very interested in cooperation with Vietnam, especially in agriculture. On the other hand, Japan is one of the important export markets for Vietnam's agricultural, forestry, and fishery products.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri highly appreciated the relationship between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Wakayama province. In particular, agricultural cooperation helps enhance the economic value of the whole industry, bringing indigenous values to the world.

Typically, people in Wakayama Prefecture favor fresh longan, fresh lychee, and processed chicken from Vietnam exported to Japan. On the other hand, Vietnamese diners can also experience the taste of nature and the warm climate of the South Sea of Japan in Unshyu Mandarin and Wakayama Mandarin.

In 2015, Former Minister Cao Duc Phat signed with Governor Yoshinobu Nisaka a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between MARD and Wakayama prefectural government on agricultural cooperation.

According to the MoU, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Japan's Wakayama Prefecture will focus on cooperation and development of advanced technologies in production, processing, distribution, agriculture, and fisheries. Also, cooperate in developing human resources, promoting trade in agriculture, fisheries, and processed food products, contributing to economic development, and creating jobs for workers of the two countries.

In 2020, Kinokawa City, Wakayama province, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on friendly cooperation with Quang Nam province, giving Quang Nam province the ancient Japanese Oga lotus, laying the foundation for the relationship "Lotus cooperation" between Vietnam and Japan.

The Governor of Wakayama Prefecture, Mr. Kishimoto Shuhei, appreciated the practical exchanges and cooperation in the agricultural field between the two countries over the years. He looks forward to welcoming leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to visit the province in the upcoming time.

Also, Mr. Kishimoto highly appreciated the main contents of the MOU between the Ministry and Wakayama. Some key issues include technical cooperation in production, processing, and distribution; human resource development; promoting trade in agricultural, aquatic, and processed products…

Besides, Mr. Hamaguchi Taishi, Chairman of the People's Council of Wakayama province, shared: “When I first came to Vietnam, I felt familiar because the climate has many similarities with Wakayama province. I think natural conditions are the critical point for extensive exchanges on agriculture between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the province in the future.”

Mr. Kishimoto highly appreciated the main contents mentioned in the MOU between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Wakayama, including Technical cooperation in production, processing, distribution, human resource development, and promotion of trade in agricultural products, seafood, and processed products.

At the meeting, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Wakayama Prefecture appointed two representatives to act as focal points for bilateral exchange and adjustment of the contents of the MOU if necessary. Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri also accepted the invitation of Governor Kishimoto Shuhei to visit Japan, looking forward to learning about processing facilities in Wakayama.

“MARD is ready to expand and deepen agricultural cooperation with Wakayama; always welcome businessmen as well as representatives of Wakayama province to approach, transfer technology, invest in production in Vietnam based on potentials and strengths of each party," said the Deputy Minister.

Wakayama is a province with strengths in agriculture and fisheries. The tropical monsoon climate creates favorable conditions for Wakayama to develop fruit trees, known as the "fruit kingdom", with the country's highest production of tangerines, apricots, and persimmons.

Wakayama's fruit and seafood processing industry is very developed. Therefore, every year, Wakayama province attracts a lot of interns from many countries, including Vietnam, to work in some primary industries in production and processing.

Japan is one of the important export markets for Vietnam's agricultural, forestry, and fishery products. In 2022, the export turnover of Vietnamese agricultural products to Japan reached approximately US$ 4.5 billion, including wood and wood products (about US$ 1.9 billion), seafood (US$ 1.7 billion ), coffee (US$ 277 million), and fruit and vegetable products (US$ 165 million).