On June 2nd (local time), a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) led by Minister Do Duc Duy began its work in the US, with the first stop being the state of Iowa.
The two ministers and their delegations during the meeting. Source: MARD
The delegation was welcomed and hosted by the Iowa Department of Agriculture, with Minister Mike Naig and Deputy Minister Grant Menke in attendance.
Minister Do Duc Duy expressed that the purpose of this visit was to promote trade cooperation in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and aquatic products between Vietnam and the United States, particularly with the state of Iowa. “There is great potential for mutual complementarity and the development of bilateral, stable, and long-term value chains in these sectors,” affirmed the head of the Vietnamese delegation.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed and assessed the current state of agricultural trade cooperation between Vietnam and Iowa. They also exchanged information, discussed their respective needs, and explored the potential for collaboration between businesses from both regions. The discussion paved the way for substantial progress, facilitating the export of high-quality agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products from Iowa to Vietnam and vice versa.
Notably, the Vietnamese delegation accompanying Minister Do Duc Duy is expected to sign memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for the purchase of over $2 billion worth of US agricultural products.
Leaders of Vietnam’s MARD and Iowa Department of Agriculture witness the signing of the MoU on trade cooperation in agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products. Source: MARD
Specifically, with Iowa, Vietnamese businesses and associations signed five MoUs worth a total of $800 million to be implemented over three years. This marks a significant increase compared to the previous average of $44 million in annual agricultural exports from Iowa to Vietnam.
Public-private partnerships between the two countries were also expanded through an MoU between the Department of Livestock and Veterinary (DLV) of MARD and the Iowa Pork Producers Association. As per the agreement, both parties pledged to strengthen trade relations and encourage linkages between Vietnamese and Iowa pig farmers by organizing technical workshops, promotional events, and business matchmaking opportunities.
Minister Do Duc Duy expressed his confidence that this event marks the beginning of a deeper and more effective phase of cooperation between the business communities of Vietnam and Iowa. It also demonstrates the goodwill of both parties in nurturing the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the United States.
