During his business trip to Vietnam, Mr. Marek Výborný – Minister of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, the Czech Embassy in Hanoi and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) organized the Czech-Vietnamese Agriculture Business Forum on March 20, 2024.
In his speech at the forum, Mr. Marek Výborný emphasized the importance of the agricultural sector for both countries in the future. Therefore, the business forum will bring new ideas for cooperation and create conditions for businesses from both sides to further explore and contribute to the development of projects and joint business activities between the two countries.
The Czech Republic, located in the heart of Europe, has been successful in combining Eastern and Western ideas, being an important transportation hub connecting European countries. At the same time, the Czech Republic is an industrialized country with a rich history, focusing mainly on the application of high technology in agriculture.
The Czech agricultural industry is unique and has many interesting aspects. For example, in the field of crop production, the Czech Republic is self-sufficient in most commodities. The most common agricultural products are cereals, rapeseed, potatoes, and sugar beets. In addition, hop and grape cultivation occupy a very important position and are traditional industries of the Czech Republic.
In addition, the livestock sector is focused on livestock farming, including cattle, pigs, poultry, and freshwater fish, which have been developed for a long time. Agricultural production is closely related to food production and is also one of the traditional industries of the Czech economy.
“We are internationally renowned for our beer, hop flowers, malt, milk and meat products, confectionery, bread, and food chemicals, as well as exporting high-quality seeds and genetic materials derived from livestock,” shared the Minister of Agriculture of the Czech Republic.
Mr. Marek Výborný highlighted the two most distinctive products of the Czech agricultural sector: beer and hop flowers. The Czech Republic is the third largest beer producer and the largest producer of high-quality, fragrant, and excellent hops in the world.
In addition, the Czech Republic’s dairy industry is one of the world’s leading and ranks third in the EU. The Czech Republic has a long-standing tradition of dairy farming, applying modern production processes in the initial milk processing stage and using modern technology and automation in the production process.
According to the Minister of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, trade and commerce between the Czech Republic and Vietnam in the agricultural sector have been increasingly thriving in recent years. Both sides still have a lot of potential to continue expanding and developing bilateral cooperation.
The trade volume of agricultural products between the two countries shows positive growth signs, demonstrating the success of promoting two-way trade.
To strengthen cooperation in the agricultural sector, the Czech Republic has appointed Mr. Luboš Marek as the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic in Ho Chi Minh City to support the Czech-Vietnamese business community in easily connecting and cooperating in the fields of agriculture and food.
Sharing intimate insights with the business communities of both countries at the forum, Mr. Nguyễn Quốc Trị, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, affirmed that Vietnam has gradually asserted its competitive position in the global agricultural market.
Vietnamese agricultural products have rapidly expanded their presence in more than 190 countries and territories, including demanding markets such as the United States, Japan, and the EU. Vietnam’s agricultural exports rank second in Southeast Asia and fifteenth in the world. The export turnover of agricultural, forestry, and fisheries products reached over 53 billion USD, with a trade surplus of over 12 billion USD, an increase of 43.7% compared to 2022.
Vietnam, with its favorable geographical conditions, open policies, and improving investment and business environment, has been and continues to offer many new opportunities and advantages to investors, especially in the fields of agriculture and rural areas.
According to Deputy Minister Nguyễn Quốc Trị, Vietnam has advantages and great potential for developing tropical agriculture. There is still a lot of room for trade cooperation and investment in the agricultural sector. Vietnam’s consistent policy is to create favorable conditions and an open environment for foreign investors, including Czech investors.
More importantly, the Czech Republic has advanced scientific and technical capabilities and experience in agricultural production and processing. Vietnam hopes that Czech businesses will invest and transfer technology in processing and trading agricultural, forestry, and fisheries products, livestock products, and veterinary drugs. Both sides have many strengths that can complement and support each other’s development.
Deputy Minister Nguyễn Quốc Trị affirmed: “Vietnam is committed to supporting and creating favorable conditions to promote the business, trade, and investment relations of Czech companies in line with the laws and the Vietnamese Government’s policy of openness and economic integration.”
