AQUACULTURE CO-OPERATION AGREEMENTS AGREED FOR MEKONG DELTA

Aquaculture co-operation agreements agreed for Mekong Delta

Eighteen cooperation agreements between Vietnamese and Dutch businesses were signed at the 3rd Mekong Delta Business Forum that took place recently in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to the newly signed cooperation content, the two sides will build small-scale shrimp and pangasius farming cooperatives in Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Ca Mau, and Bac Lieu, capable of mobilising capital; improving product value chains by increasing access to vaccination; and improving knowledge, skills, and access to technology in the aquaculture sector.

In addition, businesses from the two countries will cooperate in aquaculture based on mangrove forests in the Mekong Delta and launch a sustainable mangrove shrimp farming facility with a loan worth 15 million USD, expanding organic shrimp farming from the shrimp supply of 3,000 shrimp farming households on an area of 10,000 hectares.

The two sides also implemented a food supply chain to meet the growing demand for sustainable products in Europe, creating more business opportunities for Dutch agricultural companies in Vietnam through the platform. Innovative information technology platform.

There is also a project to deploy a comprehensive farming process with seed treatment and product preservation techniques as part of an integrated rice growing strategy to achieve 1 million hectares of high-quality rice, supported by a loan worth 90 million USD. Especially the signing of investment terms worth 1 million euros to increase adaptation to climate change, comprehensiveness, and diversity for sustainable agriculture in the Mekong Delta…

Collaborative projects aim to bring new business opportunities, create long-term jobs, and promote sustainable economic development activities, balancing aquaculture productivity with mangrove conservation and bringing benefits to ecosystems and communities, thereby concretizing the strategic partnership in the field of water and climate between Vietnam and the Netherlands.

Mr. Mark Harbes, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands, said that the signing of cooperation between the two sides this time will contribute to building a sustainable food supply chain and Vietnam’s agricultural export efforts. Nam to the Dutch and European markets, as well as bringing Dutch products closer to Vietnamese consumers.

“We are very happy to be present in a beautiful country like Vietnam. The two countries have similarities in that they both have deltas and large rivers flowing through them. Therefore, we also share the same challenges, such as climate change, rising sea levels, saltwater intrusion, and the burden of urbanization and industrialization. The Netherlands has 50 years of experience in water governance, as does Vietnam. But those experiences today are not enough; how can we take appropriate actions in the future? “said Mr. Mark Harbes.

Attending the forum, Mr. Tran Thanh Nam, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), said that in Vietnam, the Mekong Delta contributes about 56% of rice output, 70% of aquaculture output, and 64% of fruit production, of which a large proportion is exported. Currently, this region is facing challenges of climate change, environment, and market prices, causing great pressure on agricultural production.

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