Opening agricultural markets between Vietnam and Nebraska

Minister Le Minh Hoan met with Mr. Jim Pillen, Governor of Nebraska State, United States, on July 13 to promote cooperation in agricultural science and technology and trade.

According to Minister Le Minh Hoan, trade relations between Vietnam and Nebraska began ten years ago. In 2020, eight Vietnamese businesses signed trade agreements with American businesses to import unprocessed beef, wheat, distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) soybean meal, maize, and wood.

Nebraska has a robust agricultural sector. According to World Bank statistics, Nebraska is the leading supplier in the United States of all types of animal feed ingredients to Vietnam.

In addition, the state's total export turnover to Vietnam will reach 86.3 million USD in 2022, with soybeans (reaching 45 million USD in 2022) and cattle (reaching 16.1 million USD in 2022) being the state's most valuable exports.

In the Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, the agroproduction industry aims to renew the crop structure and implement management of agricultural land use purposes more flexibly in order to capitalize on the strategic manufacturing industry to meet domestic demand and serve export; prioritize the development of commodities with comparative advantages and substantial demand (industrial crops, tropical fruit trees, premium rice, etc.); promote the development of new promising commodities such as medicinal plants, ornamental plants, and edible mushrooms by taking the necessary measures.

The strategy for the livestock industry is to assure the domestic market's basic food requirements; develop potential products such as poultry meat, eggs, and milk; and maintain the breeding of hogs and large cattle. Develop livestock, poultry, indigenous livestock, and high-value specialties, ensuring food safety, environmental sustainability, biosecurity, and disease.

"We have set a goal to maintain 29-30 million pigs, 500-550 million poultry, and over 14 million cattle (cow, dairy cow, buffalo, goat, and sheep) on a regular basis by 2030. "Therefore, the demand for cooperation in investment and development of the livestock, slaughter, and feed production industries is very high; this is a potential area for US businesses to learn from and collaborate with Vietnamese businesses, bringing benefits to both sides," the minister stated.

Vietnam expected Nebraska enterprises to increase investment and technology transfer in the sectors of irrigation, livestock irrigation, cultivation, and processing of agricultural products, according to the minister of agriculture and rural development.

The Department also wishes to expand the program of cooperation in science and technology, and capacity building training with Nebraska's research institutions and universities.

At the meeting, Minister Le Minh Hoan proposed that Nebraska collaborate with Vietnam to open the market for agricultural products with complementary strengths. To ensure a seamless opening, it is recommended that the Nebraska side have solutions to support standardization equipment and train staff in quarantine agencies to conform to the United States phytosanitation, disease control, and food safety requirements.

In addition, the Minister proposed that Nebraska create opportunities for businesses on both sides to learn about each other through the organization of forums where they can actively capture information, update the situation, and share lessons and experiences, with the goal of mutual support in cooperation and development of production and business, improvement of productivity, and a higher import-export ratio between the two countries.

The Minister also suggested that Nebraska coordinate with Vietnamese partners to conduct a number of market surveys for agricultural products of interest to Vietnam and the United States in order to identify potential products for enhancing bilateral trade promotion in a manner that is mutually beneficial