Strengthening Agricultural Cooperation with Israel

A group of seven Israeli agricultural industry companies met with Vietnamese partners at the recent conference on “Israel’s agro-high tech and opportunities for cooperation with Vietnam.” Visitors were leading Israeli companies in agricultural high-tech, turnkey agricultural projects, greenhouse system, food processing, milk processing, aquaculture, poultry and cattle husbandry. The conference was hosted in Hanoi by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in collaboration with the Israeli Chamber of Economy and Commerce, Israeli Embassy in Vietnam and Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labour.

 

Dr Doan Duy Khuong, Vice President of VCCI, said: Vietnam and Israel established diplomatic relations in 1993. Since then, the two sides have actively promoted activities and cooperation in politics, trade, agriculture, health, education, construction and others.

 

Mr Khuong said that the bilateral trade turnover has steadily increased in the past years. The value was just US$66 million in 2004, but it jumped to over US$140 million in 2007 and exceeded US$222 million in 2010, of which Vietnam exported US$125 million worth of products to Israel and spent US$97 million on imports.

 

Vietnam’s major exports to Israel are seafood, garments, footwear, agricultural products, handicrafts and wooden products. The potential of exporting to Israel remains huge for Vietnam. Meanwhile, the Southeast Asian nation primarily imports fertilizers, chemicals, telecommunications equipment, security equipment and agriculture technology from Israel.

 

"We highly appreciate the development of the Israeli economy, notwithstanding poor natural resources and soil aridity, Israel has a highly developed economy. Israeli businesses have admirably strived to compete and develop as they apply science and technology to production and business,” Mr Khuong said. Vietnamese enterprises are eager to learn from and cooperate with Israeli partners in the areas Israel is strong at like agricultural technology (soil improvement, seeding, irrigation, animal husbandry, production and processing), electronics and telecommunications, among others.

 

With the aim of promoting economic cooperation and trade for both sides, the conference helped Vietnamese enterprises learn more about the Israeli market and meet face to face with Israeli partners to discuss cooperation opportunities.