Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Duong Anh Duc (R) and Cuban Deputy Minister of Agriculture Maury Hechavarria Bermhudez. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City and Cuba have vowed to enhanceagricultural cooperation, especially in sharing experience in hi-techagricultural production and farm produce processing.
The consensus was reached by Vice Chairman of the municipal People’sCommittee Duong Anh Duc and Cuban Deputy Minister of Agriculture MauryHechavarria Bermhudez at their meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on May 12.
Duc said Cuba holds great potential for agricultural development while thereremains huge room for Vietnam and Cuba to extend collaboration, especially inrice and coffee production.
Ho Chi Minh City is ready to cooperate with and support thetransfer of advanced agricultural production technologies to Cuba, he said,adding that with strengths in food processing, packaging, export-import andhigh-tech agricultural production, the city hopes that specific joint projectswill contribute to ensuring Cuba’s food security.
Bermhudez, for his part, said Vietnam's rice cultivation project in Cuba is now inits fifth phase with positive results, especially in terms of crop varieties.In addition, the project on developing coffee in Cuba using Vietnam's robustaseeds has resulted in a ten-fold increase in yield compared to Cuba's previousvarieties.
Cuba wants to continue partnering with Vietnamese enterprises,including Ho Chi Minh City, in these areas to help the Caribbean country achieve its food securitygoal, he said.
The Deputy Minister said Cuba is calling for investment in animalhusbandry and building supply chains between breeding and meat processing whichis of Vietnam’s strength, therefore, Cuba believes in cooperationpotential in this field with Vietnamese enterprises, including those in Ho ChiMinh City.
Cuba expects to create the best conditions for Vietnamesecompanies to invest in the Latin American country and make profit based on mutually beneficial arrangements, he said.
The same day, Bermhudez attended and delivered a speech at a trade and investment promotion forumbetween Ho Chi Minh City and Cuba. The forum provided an opportunity forbusinesses from both sides to connect with each other, learn about businessenvironment and discuss cooperation opportunities./.
