A delegation of 19 Vietnamese businesses, the Vietnam Organic Agriculture Association (VOAA), and several organic farming trainers will go to Australia to popularize various kinds of organic products from March 18-25, VNA reported.

The event is organized under an initiative of Mekong Organics, the Export Council of Australia; the Centre for Rural Development-Saemaul Undong under the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, HCM City; and the VOAA.

Liquid aminos, sugar, and vinegar from coconut flower by Sokfarm Vietnam showcased at Biofach 2024. Photo: VNA

Stories of Vietnamese organic farming together with delicious tastes of such organic products as coconut flower nectar juice, pepper, tea, coffee and cashew will be introduced in Sydney, Bairnsdale and Melbourne on March 23 and March 25, respectively.

During their stay, the delegation will visit organic cultivation models in Canberra, New South Wales’ Riverina region and Victoria’s Gippsland region, and meet with several Australian organizations such as the Australian Organic Agriculture Association (OAA), the non-governmental organization Global Landcare, leaders of the Vietnamese economic program at DFAT, and representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in Canberra and the Vietnamese Consulate General in Sydney.

The trip aims at helping improve Vietnamese firms’ production and processing capacity, while connecting them with Australian importers and leading organic farming trainers.

According to Director of Mekong Organics Nguyen Van Kien, who is also the director of the project on enhancing investment and trade promotion of organic agricultural products between Vietnam and Australia, the trip plays an important role in building Australia’s trust in Vietnamese organic products’ quality.

He expressed his hope that Vietnam’s organic cultivation, processing and trade will be improved in the coming time.

Previously, in November 2023, the project organized training for 83 Australian businesses wishing to cooperate in trade with Vietnam. In January this year, the project held 2 training classes on export capabilities for 30 businesses and cooperatives in the southern region and 30 enterprises and cooperatives in the northern region of Vietnam; 2 forums themed "Strengthening investment promotion and trade promotion of Australia-Vietnam organic agriculture" at the Rural Development Center - Saemaul Undong on January 17 and at the Organic Agriculture Association in Hanoi on January 20.

The event attracted more than 100 businesses, cooperatives and international experts, representatives of the Australian Embassy in Hanoi, Australian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Vietnamese villages and leaders of Vietnamese provinces and cities.

Currently, both Australia and Vietnam want to diversify the trade relationship between the two countries. To achieve this, the Australian Government has established and developed the Australia-Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Grant (AVEG). After the success of the first round project, Mekong Organics was one of the units selected to participate in the second round.

Mekong Organics was established in 2019 with the mission of promoting the application of chemical-free agricultural methods in the Mekong region, with a specific focus on Vietnam.

The two-way trade hit USD 13.8 billion last year, making Australia the 10th biggest trade partner of Vietnam, and the Southeast Asian nation the seventh largest of Australia.