Vietnams agricultural export value ranked 15th in the world: Deputy Minister

The total value of Vietnam's agricultural exports ranked 15th in the world. (Photo: NDO/Pham Ha)

Vietnam's total agricultural exports are ranked 15th in the world and its agricultural products are available in 180 countries and territories worldwide, even penetrating multiple fastidious markets.

The information was shared by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Le Quoc Doanh, during a workshop on capacity building for export and food safety of agricultural products in Vietnam, co-organised by the MARD in collaboration with CropLife Vietnam, in Hanoi, on November 27.

Although the export turnover of agricultural products always reaches high values, Deputy Minister Doanh suggested Vietnam agricultural exports should bring into play its advantages and potential. In particular, it is necessary to strengthen the management and control of product quality, thus ensuring safe and sustainable exports.

In order to export safe and sustainable agricultural products, the agricultural sector should develop standards systems that meet the requirements of the import markets, which in turn will help Vietnamese agriculture to handle any problems which may arise in a prompt manner and overcome the growing trade barriers from export markets.

It is necessary to promote and strengthen measures to manage the plant protection and quality control of agricultural products in Vietnam in order to promote safe and sustainable exports. This requirement is not only set for the Vietnamese agricultural sector, but also the urgent need of international agencies and organisations to control the quality of agricultural products around the world, Doanh added.

According to a representative from the Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture in Vietnam, the country’s agricultural production is heading towards increased quality and value of its agricultural products, which is reflected in the restructuring process to increase high value for agricultural products.

Siang Hee Tan, Executive Director of CropLife Asia, said that Vietnam's agricultural production needs to improve the control of input materials and output products. It also needs a strategy to promote safe and sustainable agriculture, ensuring that farmers have the highest income possible.

Safe and sustainable export solutions must be aimed at further expanding Vietnam's export markets, not just in 180 countries and territories. The issue is how to provide higher quality and better agricultural products to meet the market and consumers’ demand in export countries, Siang Hee Tan suggested.