Vietnam and Japan have achieved many positive outcomes in agriculture cooperation, and the two sides will continue working together to build sustainable food value chains in the near future, according to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 

Speaking at a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on January 16, deputy chief representative of JICA office in Vietnam Murooka Naomichi said many Japanese businesses have selected Vietnam as an investment destination to purchase material and process farm produce to export to Japan.

Apart from favourable natural conditions for agricultural development, Vietnam has recorded good economic growth in recent years, he said, adding that the demand for clean and safe agricultural products and food in the Southeast Asian country has been increasing.

Particularly, Vietnam is integrating extensively and intensively into the global economy and it is a free trade partner of key countries and regions in the world. Therefore, the potential for exporting farm produce and processed products to the global market remains huge, he added.

However, the agriculture sector still encounters a number of challenges such as the impact of climate change, small-scale production, lack of connectivity, and limited processing technology.

In its strategy to build food supply chains, Japan is stepping up support and cooperation projects with Vietnamese businesses and farmers as well as boosting private investment in agriculture, and improving production infrastructure and distribution system of agricultural products.

Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, head of the International Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said Japan is currently the biggest foreign direct investor of Vietnam in the field with a lot of high-quality agricultural projects such as growing vegetables and flowers in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, and animal husbandry in the southern province of Dong Nai.

In 2015-2019, Japan implemented a project to support the development of food value chains from production, processing, distribution to sale and the increase of the added value for agricultural products and foodstuffs in Nghe An, Lam Dong, Ben Tre, Can Tho and some surrounding areas of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Tuan said Vietnam calls on foreign businesses and investors, especially those Japan, to promote investment in improving the quality of agricultural products.