Hanoi, April 6, 2022 (WAM) – Vietnam and New Zealand reaffirmed their commitment to deepen agricultural and trade relations between the two countries at the second agricultural dialogue between Vietnam and New Zealand, which took place almost on April 6.
According to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), the parties stressed that in order to achieve the goal of bringing the bilateral trade turnover to $ 2 billion by 2024, the key is to increase bilateral agricultural cooperation and ties between the two countries.
Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doan said: “Both countries are strong producers and exporters of agriculture with additional products. The Vietnamese-New Zealand agricultural dialogue will help expand our ties. , cooperation and bilateral trade, in line with what our prime ministers have identified in a joint statement on strategic partnership ”.
Vietnam remains a promising market for New Zealand and vice versa due to high demand for key agricultural products.
The turnover of exports and imports of agroforestry and water products of Vietnam to New Zealand amounted to 549.2 million US dollars in 2021, an increase of 11 percent over the same period last year.
For his part, Executive Director of the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industry Ray Smith stressed that it is an opportunity for both sides to consider how countries can work together to increase sustainability and viability in their agricultural economies after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The parties pledged to increase bilateral trade, reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture, improve food security, use agricultural research and technology, and develop rural areas.
Last year, bilateral trade between Vietnam and New Zealand exceeded $ 1.56 billion, an increase of 14 percent, and by December last year, Vietnam was New Zealand’s 15th largest trading partner.
