A forum to create connection and promote cooperation between Vietnamese and Japanese enterprises operating in agriculture was held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in Hanoi on September 19.

The event attracted experts and representatives from businesses specializing in producing, processing, exporting and importing food and agro-forestry-aquaculture products of the two countries.

 Deputy Minister of MARD Tran Thanh Nam stressed the forum aims to update the two sides’ enterprises, associations, sectors and localities on regulations of Vietnam and Japan related to import and export management of agro-forestry-aquaculture products. It also offers a good chance for them to share experience and seek measures to deal difficulties and boost trade promotion and agriculture investment.

 According to Nam, the agriculture ministries of the two countries have built a long-term cooperation framework and memoranda of understanding on cooperation on popularizing standards and certification related to the quality of agricultural products and foodstuffs, and the development of Vietnam's rice value chain.

 Notably, Vietnam and Japan have joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which came into effect in January this year, the official said, adding that this is a favourable condition and also an opportunity not only to promote cooperation in potential fields, increase import and export turnover between the two countries, but also bolster connection in investment and technology transfer, and vocational training for agricultural workers between Vietnam and Japan in the near future.

 Japanese investors are increasingly interested in agriculture, especially hi-tech and clean agriculture.

 In 2018, the total import-export turnover between Vietnam and Japan reached 37.9 billion USD, accounting for 7.9 percent of Vietnam's total trade turnover with all countries in the world.

 In the first eight month of 2019, the two-way trade hit 25.7 billion USD, up 4.9 percent over the same period in 2018, of which Vietnam’s main agro-forestry-aquaculture exports to Japan were valued at 1.9 billion USD.

 Vietnam imported a number of items such as vegetables and fruits, dairy and aquatic products, and wood from Japan, with a total value of over 350 million USD in the period.