Many Vietnamese agricultural, forestry, and fishery products are favored by Japanese consumers. Illustrative photo: Pham Tuan

Many product categories lack opportunities to penetrate the Japanese market

Assessing the potential of the Japanese market, Mr. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director General of the International Cooperation Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), stated at the "Connecting Supply Chains and Meeting Market Demands" seminar that Japan, as a developed industrial nation with a modern agricultural sector, possesses advantages in applying high technology to agricultural production. Despite this, Japanese agriculture only meets over 45% of domestic consumption needs and relies on annual agricultural imports. This presents an advantage for Vietnam to expand its agricultural exports to Japan.

Currently, Vietnamese agricultural exports to Japan comprise only six main categories, while several key Vietnamese agricultural products like rice, tea, and livestock products haven't yet penetrated the Japanese market significantly. The total value of agricultural exports accounts for less than 2% of Vietnam's total export value to Japan. Therefore, the potential for agricultural exports from Vietnam to Japan remains substantial.

Moreover, in the context of international integration, Japan's high-quality standards motivate continuous improvements in Vietnamese agricultural products to meet global consumer expectations and build a strong brand for Vietnamese agriculture globally.

Notably, establishing an efficient supply chain in Vietnam not only strengthens the connection between farmers, businesses, and distributors but also enhances product value, meeting domestic and international market demands. Achieving this requires close cooperation among stakeholders, from applying new technologies in production and preservation to optimizing logistics and market access.

Building brands and increasing competitiveness

Sharing this perspective, Mr. Ito Naoki, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam, highlighted the 50-year history of diplomatic relations and multi-sectoral cooperation between Vietnam and Japan. Japan's market is ten times larger than Vietnam's, but its agricultural workforce is shrinking and aging. This presents a significant opportunity for Vietnamese agricultural products to access and penetrate the Japanese market. Mr. Naoki expressed confidence that with the assistance of Japanese experts, Vietnam could become an agricultural powerhouse.

Mr. Naoki emphasized strengthening technical cooperation and sales promotion, praising the collaboration between the National Agricultural Extension Center (NAEC) and Aeon Topvalu Co., Ltd. to offer products aligned with market demands and new trends. The NAEC is currently implementing a community-based agricultural extension system to transfer techniques to individual households, adding value to Vietnamese agricultural production.

According to Mr. Le Quoc Thanh, Director of the NAEC, Vietnam-Japan high-tech agricultural cooperation will focus on sharing experiences in building networks and establishing effective communication systems among farmers, producers, distributors, and consumers. This includes applying technology in agricultural production and distribution, such as using supply chain management software, blockchain technology for product traceability, and mobile applications to connect farmers with the market.

This also involves training and raising awareness among farmers regarding modern production processes, product quality standards, and effective marketing methods, while building brands for Vietnamese agricultural products to enhance value and competitiveness.

"Through these solutions, we can strengthen connections within the agricultural supply chain, better meeting market demands and promoting sustainable development in Vietnam's agricultural sector," Mr. Thanh emphasized.