A seminar on trade and investment opportunities in Vietnam ’s agro-forestry-seafood sector was held in Sydney, Australia on July 23.

The event took place during a July 20-31 working visit by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan to Australia and New Zealand to promote trade and investment in the agro-forestry-seafood sector

At the seminar, Tan said that Vietnam and Australia see great potential for trade and investment cooperation in the agro-forestry-seafood sector, especially when the two sides have been realising commitments in the framework of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area and are participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement.

Vietnam has carried out a number of policies providing incentives to investment in the agricultural sector, creating a more favourable environment for foreign investment, he said.

However, Tan noted a limited foreign investment flow to agriculture and rural development, with only 950 projects with a total registered capital of 4.8 billion USD.

The Deputy Minister called on Australian partners to further boost trade and investment cooperation with Vietnam in the sector.

Australian businesses showed their interest in measures to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in this field, including organising training courses and exchanging experts.

They suggested Vietnam create more favourable conditions for farmers to get better access to new technologies in agriculture and rural development.-VNA