The event was themed “Market Connectivity – Brand Building – Promoting Agricultural Product Consumption to Contribute to Double-Digit Economic Growth.”   

The event was co-chaired by Nguyen Hong Dien, Member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Industry and Trade, and Luong Quoc Doan, Member of the Party Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and Chairman of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union.

This was the first time the Minister and leaders of relevant departments within the Ministry of Industry and Trade had met directly with local authorities, scientific experts, outstanding farmers, and business representatives. On this occasion, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien and the Ministry’s leadership extended their best wishes for health and happiness to all participants at the forum.

Currently, the national economy is driven by three key pillars: investment, consumption, and exports. Among these, domestic consumption and exports play a particularly important role in maintaining supply chains, improving people’s living standards, and supporting regional economies.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien emphasized that to fully harness potential, increase export value, and create breakthroughs in agricultural production and consumption, it is crucial to have close coordination among relevant sectors. “We cannot rely solely on farmers and the agricultural sector. The active participation and partnership of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and other sectors are indispensable. If we limit ourselves to basic agricultural production, it will be difficult to maximize efficiency and export value,” the Minister stated.

In his opening remarks, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien expressed his appreciation: “We thank the Vietnam Farmers’ Union and our colleagues for recognizing the industry and trade sector as a strategic partner working alongside Vietnam’s agriculture. This cooperation allows farmers to maximize their potential and strengths, improve their quality of life, and contribute more significantly to the nation’s development.”

Over the years, the partnership between the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Vietnam Farmers’ Union, and the agricultural sector has achieved encouraging results. With its theme “Market Connectivity – Brand Building – Promoting Agricultural Product Consumption to Contribute to Double-Digit Economic Growth,” the forum provided an opportunity for direct engagement, discussion, and experience sharing, aimed at strengthening cooperation and mutual support in a practical manner.

The event not only fostered closer collaboration among relevant agencies but also helped boost exports, enhance the added value of agricultural products, and contribute to the country’s economic growth targets.

Luong Quoc Doan, Member of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union, noted that Vietnamese agricultural products have now been exported to more than 190 countries and territories. This achievement reflects the tireless efforts of farmers in production and business, combined with market development and trade promotion policies implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. However, he also acknowledged that the agricultural sector faces considerable challenges in realizing its export target of USD 70 billion in 2025 and its ambition of reaching USD 100 billion by 2030.

To address these challenges, the Vietnam Farmers’ Union proposed several key measures: developing the domestic market; capitalizing on opportunities from free trade agreements; maintaining stability in traditional markets; diversifying export markets to reduce overreliance on a few specific ones; and building supply chains, warehousing systems, transportation infrastructure, and information management mechanisms to meet international commitments. The Union also stressed the importance of shifting from exporting raw materials to processed goods.

During the forum, participants engaged in in-depth discussions and shared practical experiences on various topics, including market access challenges, solutions to expand exports and tap into the domestic market, improving product quality to meet domestic and international standards, and developing infrastructure for distribution and consumption. Other discussions focused on applying information technology and digital transformation in trade development, enhancing export efficiency, and strengthening the domestic market. Delegates were encouraged to engage in frank and constructive exchanges to achieve the most effective outcomes.