Suggesting Vietnam and UK’s agricultural sectors establish linkage channels

On May 13, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the Vietnamese Embassy in the United Kingdom, organized the seminar "Vietnam – United Kingdom Agricultural, Forestry, and Aquatic Products Trade Connection."

The event attracted participation from various associations, enterprises, and industry representatives, including the Vietnam – United Kingdom Business Association (UBUK), the Fruit and Vegetable Association, Coffee Association, distribution channels, supermarket chains from the UK, and nearly 30 Vietnamese enterprises involved in production, business, processing of agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products, and logistics services supporting agricultural trade.

It provided a platform for associations and enterprises from both Vietnam and the UK to discuss and share insights on consumer needs, preferences, and export-import regulations. Vietnamese businesses also had the opportunity to learn from experiences in exporting fruit, vegetables, seafood, and meat products into the UK's supermarket chains.

In addition, numerous industry experts contributed highly specialized and practical presentations, proposing close collaboration between regulatory bodies from both sides to facilitate agricultural cooperation and enhance market access for priority products.

Speaking at the seminar, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam also recommended UK associations organize annual connection activities with Vietnamese enterprises and associations to promote and expand the UK market for British products. He suggested that Vietnamese associations and businesses collaborate with UK counterparts to facilitate business delegations attending trade promotion events, brand promotion, trade fairs, market surveys, and consumer research in the UK.

“I propose that agricultural associations and sectors from both countries establish association-to-association linkage channels, creating groups of businesses linked through supply chains (cold storage, preservation, transportation, bonded warehouses, distribution channels, supermarkets, etc.) to comply with product value chain regulations and reduce logistics costs. This will ensure product quality from production to consumers.

Vietnamese enterprises should also strengthen collaboration and joint ventures with UK businesses in production and processing stages to meet regulations and align with consumer preferences in the UK, facilitating deeper market penetration into distribution channels, supermarkets, and the Vietnamese community in the UK,” Deputy Minister Nam emphasized.

In recent years, agricultural trade relations between Vietnam and the UK have continually exhibited positive growth. Specifically, in 2024, Vietnam's agricultural exports to the UK reached nearly USD 883 million, a 15.4% increase compared to the previous year.

Vietnam’s key products, such as seafood, wood and wooden products, coffee, cashew nuts, fruits and vegetables, pepper, and handicrafts made from bamboo, rattan, sedge, and mats, align well with significant UK import demands. Vietnam also imports products from the UK including seafood, pesticides and raw materials, animal feed and ingredients, and rubber.

Trade results demonstrate that import-export commodities between the two countries do not directly compete but complement each other. The UK annually imports a substantial volume of agricultural products and foodstuffs (approximately USD 67 billion) to satisfy the consumption needs of about 70 million people, indicating significant potential and opportunities for market expansion.

Dieu Linh