Hanoi (VNA) – Aforum to create connection and promote cooperation between Vietnamese andJapanese enterprises operating in agriculture was held by the Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in Hanoi on September 19.
The event attracted experts and representatives from businesses specializing inproducing, processing, exporting and importing food and agro-forestry-aquacultureproducts of the two countries.
Deputy Minister of MARD Tran Thanh Nam stressed the forum aims to update thetwo sides’ enterprises, associations, sectors and localities on regulations ofVietnam and Japan related to import and export management of agro-forestry-aquacultureproducts. It also offers a good chance for them to share experience and seekmeasures to deal difficulties and boost trade promotion and agricultureinvestment.
According to Nam, the agriculture ministries of the two countries have built along-term cooperation framework and memoranda of understanding on cooperationon popularizing standards and certification related to the quality ofagricultural products and foodstuffs, and the development of Vietnam's ricevalue chain.
Notably, Vietnam and Japanhave joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which came into effect in January this year, theofficial said, adding that this is a favourable condition and also anopportunity not only to promote cooperation in potential fields, increaseimport and export turnover between the two countries, but also bolsterconnection in investment and technology transfer, and vocational training foragricultural workers between Vietnam and Japan in the near future.
Japanese investors are increasinglyinterested in agriculture, especially hi-tech and clean agriculture.
In 2018, the totalimport-export turnover between Vietnam and Japan reached 37.9 billion USD, accountingfor 7.9 percent of Vietnam's total trade turnover with all countries in theworld.
In the first eight month of2019, the two-way trade hit 25.7 billion USD, up 4.9 percent over the sameperiod in 2018, of which Vietnam’s main agro-forestry-aquaculture exports toJapan were valued at 1.9 billion USD.
Vietnam imported a number of items such as vegetables and fruits, dairy andaquatic products, and wood from Japan, with a total value of over 350 millionUSD in the period./.