Launch of Australia in Vietnam Agriculture Strategy
In recognition of the importance of agriculture to the Australia-Vietnam bilateral relationship, Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources launched the Australia in Vietnam Agriculture Strategy in Can Tho on 24 August.
The strategy identifies economic, innovation and security priorities for both nations that offer the greatest returns and maximises common interests.
“We have built the foundations of our agriculture relationship through over 40 years of collaboration in the agriculture, fisheries, forestry and water sectors”, said Assistant Minister Ruston.
“It is a foundation that provides us with great opportunities to expand and grow into the future. The Australia in Vietnam Agriculture Strategy recognises the value of growing our bilateral trade in agriculture and building on the investments both nations are already making”, Assistant Minister Ruston added.
The Australia Vietnam agriculture partnership is largely complementary. Australia predominately exports raw materials, which are processed and value-added in Vietnam. Australian technologies are being utilised in Vietnamese-agribusinesses, improving productivity and safety and Australia’s investments are diversifying Vietnam’s manufacturing industries beyond textiles and electronics and into food processing.
“Australia’s agriculture relationship with Vietnam cuts across all key pillars of our bilateral relationship - economic, innovation and security”, said Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, H.E. Mr Craig Chittick.
“As Ambassador, I am constantly impressed with the breadth and depth of our work in agriculture, from projects that help smallholder farmers establish a business supplying safe vegetables to supermarkets in Hanoi, to large Vietnamese companies using Australian technology to pioneer sustainable shrimp farming in Vietnam”.
Australia is also importing an increasing range of Vietnamese agricultural products, including seafood, nuts, tropical fruit and manufactured timber.
To download a copy of the strategy, visit: http://bit.ly/AusAgriStrategyEN