The agreement was made during talks between Vietnamese Minister ofAgriculture and Rural Development stated Cao Duc Phat and his Polishcounterpart Marek Wasicki in Hanoi on Dec. 4.
Minister Phat praised Poland for its agricultural achievements and saidhe hoped that Poland would work closely with Vietnam in areas that itis strong in such as veterinary services, control on the quality ofagricultural, forestry and aquaculture products and animal husbandry.
Vietnam gives its agricultural industry top priority, particularlyin land acquisitions and tax benefits, said the Minister, adding thathis Ministry is willing to facilitate Polish firms investing and doingbusiness in Vietnam .
As a member of the European Union, Poland ’s cooperation in theproduction, processing and export of Vietnamese products to the EU hasseen many prospects, according to Minister Wasicki.
He added that he hoped joint ventures between businesses from both countries could soon be established in Vietnam and Poland.
With a quarter of all its agricultural and fisheries products being forexport, Poland has a wide range of experience in both of these sectorsfrom processing to conducting scientific research. Poland is also aleading diary producer in Europe and these are areas both countriescould cooperate in, said Minister Wasicki.
Vietnam exports agricultural, forestry and aquaculture productssuch as basa fish, shrimp, coffee, rice, tea, rubber worthapproximately 400 million USD annually to Poland .
The Southeast Asian nation currently imports farm produce worth 10 billion USD each year from Poland .
The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to promotebilateral cooperation in agriculture in September in Poland. However,two-way turnover in the agriculture sector has not yet matched thepotential of both sides, added Minister Phat.
On the occasion, Minister Phat asked Minister Wasicki to convey amessage to Poland ’s Economic Ministry on the possibility of providingmore credit in the 2010 fiscal year to help Vietnam carry out aship-building project that will enable the country to conduct researchon its maritime resources.
On the same day, both ministers attended the Vietnam-Poland business forum.
The Polish delegation led by Minister Sawicki is visiting Vietnam from Nov. 30-Dec. 5./.