The Netherlands is Vietnam's top trading partner in the EU

Deputy Minister Le Quoc Doanh stressed the significance of agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and the Netherlands at the medal awarding ceremony for Ambassador Elsbeth Akkerman.

On July 20, Deputy Minister Le Quoc Doanh of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development presented Ambassador Elsbeth Akkerman and Agricultural Counselor Willem Schoustra of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Vietnam with the Medal for the Cause of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Mr. Doanh confirmed that the Netherlands and Vietnam had developed a cooperative, active, and effective partnership. It is one of Vietnam's most important trading partners in Europe.

"Two years after the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EU/EVFTA) came into force, Vietnam has become the focal point and gained opportunities to attract a new wave of FDI from European investments, including the Netherlands, which has emerged as the key partner, contributing up to 50 percent of total investment capital," stated the MARD leader.

According to him, the agricultural growth model of the Netherlands is suitable for Vietnam in light of its expanding population, limited land area, and climate change pressure.

"Since the signing of the Strategic Cooperation Agreement on Agriculture and Food Security in 2014, the two sides have actively cooperated through the launch of numerous programs and projects, supporting businesses in the fields of irrigation/natural disaster prevention, cultivation, animal husbandry, cooperative development, agricultural extension, and most recently, sustainable agricultural transformation in the Mekong Delta," stated Deputy Minister Le Quoc Doanh.

Specifically, Ambassador Elsbeth Akkerman's efforts have contributed to the high-level meetings between the leaders of the two countries over the years.

Even in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, she supported the growth of trade promotion and investment activities, as well as the promotion of two-way trade turnover in the agro-forestry-fishery sector.

"Since 2016, the Netherlands has become the largest export market for Vietnamese commodities in Europe, with a total turnover of USD 7.68 billion in 2021, of which agricultural trade accounted for 14 to 15 percent," said the Deputy Minister.

Ambassador Elsbeth Akkerman said that she was honored to receive the medal and that the awarding ceremony was beyond her expectations.

"During my time working in the agricultural sector, I realized agriculture's significance not just in terms of the economy, but also in terms of addressing social issues. This is true not just for the Netherlands, but also for a great number of other nations, including Vietnam.", added Ambassador Elsbeth Akkerman.

Ms. Elsbeth Akkerman also said that the Netherlands is willing to share its agricultural development and climate change response expertise with Vietnam.

In addition, the Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam said that the presence and growth of several Dutch firms in Vietnam serve as a strong basis for the connection and collaboration between the two nations to grow in the future.

Currently, a number of Dutch companies are expanding their business operations in Vietnam, including De Heus, the market leader in animal feed, Rijk Zwaan in the field of plant seeds, Schippers with products to support the development of biological livestock, Van Iperen in the field of fertilizers, and Lenger seafood in the field of seafood/clams, among others.