Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development has approved a 500,000 CAD (468,000 USD) support package to facilitate Vietnam’s agricultural restructuring scheme for the 2013-2020 period.

Addressing a signing ceremony of a document to this effect in Hanoi on July 8, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Van Thang highly valued the Canadian Government’s support to the sector over the past years.

He added his ministry has promoted the scheme by boosting the development of science and technology and human resources training, and perfecting relevant policies and measures.

Victoria Sutherland, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Programme of the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam, noted the outcomes of the project over the past year and expressed her hope that they will serve as a solid foundation for the expansion of the scheme in the time ahead.

She said she hopes that the support will also help improve the sector’s competitive edge as well as income for 15 million local famer households.-VNA