Minister of State Martin Heydon T.D. this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding for enhanced cooperation with Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment, represented by Vice Minister Do Thanh Trung during a study tour to Ireland.
The visit forms part of the Ireland Vietnam Agrifood Partnership (IVAP) programme, which is managed and implemented by Sustainable Food Systems Ireland (SFSI) and funded by the Embassy of Ireland. The agreement underscores a strengthening diplomatic and trade relationship between Ireland and Vietnam,
The IVAP aims to support Vietnam to transform its agri-food system in the areas of sustainable primary production systems, food safety, innovation and quality. The Vietnamese visit focuses on knowledge exchange in enterprise and cooperative development and agri-food innovation.
Speaking on the agreement, Minister Heydon said, “We continue to pioneer improvements in agriculture in Ireland. There are lessons we have learned from transforming our own agri-food systems that can be adapted to the environmental and economic challenges faced by agriculture in countries such as Vietnam.”
He added“As an EU Member S, tate, Ireland is keen to work with Vietnam to ensure that both of our countries can continue to benefit mutually from the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. Agri-food trade between Ireland and Vietnam continues to grow and it is a priority market for Irish beef access. A Government of Ireland Trade Mission to Vietnam is planned for October 2024 to include Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with involvement from Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland, SFSI and DAFM.”
During the week the delegation also visited Bord Bia, NovaUCD, Irish Cooperative Organisation Society, Tirlán and Teagasc Moorepark. The visit from the Vietnamese government side is part of an ongoing programme of skills development and research under the IVAP programme.
(Source: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
