Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan has proposed Italy’s Agriculture Ministry and relevant agencies facilitate further penetration of Vietnam’s agro-forestry and fisheries products in the country.

Deputy Minister Tan made the proposal at his working session with representatives of the Italian Agriculture Ministry during his recent five-day working visit to the country.

The Italian side said they would arrange a visit to Vietnam in the near future by Minister of Agriculture Francesco Saverio Romano and a business delegation, to seek investment opportunities.

Both host and guest agreed to promote their products to further boost bilateral trade.

Tan acknowledged Italy’s financial capacity and processing industry, calling for Italian investment in processing value-added products in Vietnam.

The Italian representatives pledged to seek ways to cooperate under the form of joint ventures or wholly Italian-invested projects.

In another working session, with the Italian Health Ministry’s Quality Management, the Italian side highly valued Vietnam’s products, especially seafood.

While in Italy from May 6-10, the Vietnamese delegation attended the Tutto Food Fair 2011 in Milan and organised a seminar to promote Vietnam’s trade and investment in Italy.

Deputy Minister Tan told the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Italy that Vietnamese businesses should enhance trade exchanges with their Italian partners, to fully exploit opportunities in a large market with growth potential./.