Vietnam - Bulgaria hold bilateral meeting on agriculture and environment

As part of the official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria from October 22 to 24, on the afternoon of October 23 (local time), Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang held a bilateral meeting with Georgi Tahov, Minister of Agriculture and Food of Bulgaria.

The two sides agreed to have their specialized agencies coordinate and implement cooperation in multiple areas, including agriculture, research, and human resource training, with participation from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and research institutions under Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

Regarding cooperation, in 2014 the two ministries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on agriculture, livestock, and fisheries. In 2017, the Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute of Vietnam and the Bulgarian Rose Research Institute signed an agreement on rose breeding research and development.

Building on previous memoranda and the significant potential for collaboration in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries - the sector representing the largest trade share between the two countries - both sides agreed to continue exchanges, moving toward signing a bilateral agreement on cooperation in agriculture, livestock, and fisheries.

Regarding trade, bilateral turnover in 2024 reached 263 million USD, up 24.4% compared to 2023; in the first six months of 2025, it reached 110 million USD, of which Vietnam exported 95 million USD. Bulgaria has 14 investment projects in Vietnam with a total capital of nearly 35 million USD, ranking 68th out of 143 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. In the agricultural sector alone, Vietnam’s exports to Bulgaria reached 187 million USD (up 33.1%), while imports from Bulgaria were 76 million USD (up 7.2%), resulting in a trade surplus of over 110 million USD.

Vietnam’s main export products include coffee, cashew, rice, and rubber, while imports from Bulgaria consist of wheat, corn, tobacco, sunflower seeds, rose seedlings, and fertilizers. Vietnam has been authorized to export honey, milk, animal hair, and processed foods to the EU, including Bulgaria. Conversely, Bulgaria seeks to export beef, pork, milk, breeding eggs, and seafood to Vietnam, with both sides coordinating to assess disease risks in accordance with international regulations.

The two ministers agreed to continue deepening cooperation in agriculture and fisheries. Vietnam can learn from Bulgaria’s experience in salmon and carp farming, while Bulgaria represents a potential market for Vietnam’s key products such as shrimp and pangasius. Additionally, both sides will strengthen exchanges on technical information, food safety, technology transfer in processing, post-harvest handling, and livestock waste management, aiming to develop green, circular, and sustainable agriculture.

Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang emphasized that the meeting took place at a particularly meaningful time, as 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Bulgaria. It provides an important opportunity for both sides to discuss cooperation directions in agriculture, environment, and food - sectors with significant potential and strengths - contributing to deepening the partnership between the two countries.

The meeting between Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang and Minister Georgi Tahov is seen as a concrete step in implementing the guidance of General Secretary To Lam, helping to advance Vietnam - Bulgaria agricultural cooperation in a practical, effective, and sustainable manner in the new phase.

Khuong Trung