Viet Nam, Germany strengthen training of high-quality agricultural workforce

On November 3, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam received and held talks with Mr. Marcus Malsch, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy, Agriculture, and Rural Development of Thuringia, Germany.

Sharing Viet Nam’s vision for agricultural development, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam stated that the country is moving toward ecological and sustainable agriculture, focusing not on output volume but on quality and environmental protection. “To achieve this goal, we are leveraging domestic capabilities, with international support, particularly from partners strong in technology such as Germany,” he emphasized.

Regarding cooperation with Germany in general and Thuringia in particular, the Deputy Minister expressed confidence that there remains significant potential to expand collaboration across multiple fields, especially in agriculture, environment, and vocational training.

At the meeting, leaders from both sides discussed several key points: strengthening cooperation in agriculture and the environment; sharing potential for science and technology transfer in production; promoting collaborative projects and training a high-quality agricultural workforce; and connecting businesses to expand trade and investment opportunities.

Regarding vocational training, Viet Nam acknowledged the effectiveness of existing cooperation programs and expressed the desire to expand further partnerships between Vietnamese vocational schools and those in Thuringia.

“In the coming period, both sides should continue exchanging lecturers and vocational training experts, including Viet Nam’s agricultural extension staff, to gain practical experience, transfer technology, and support farmers in improving their skills.

In addition, I propose that Thuringia consider transferring vocational training programs in mechanization, biotechnology, digital technology, and mechanical engineering tailored to Viet Nam’s needs, while recognizing equivalent training certificates so Vietnamese trainees can access employment opportunities in Germany,” Deputy Minister Nam stated.

Agreeing with Viet Nam's cooperation directions, State Secretary Marcus Malsch emphasized that Thuringia will prioritize supporting Viet Nam in training a highly skilled and professionally competent agricultural workforce.

He noted that Germany currently offers 14 specialized green agriculture occupations, supported by experienced instructors and well-established training programs. This provides a strong foundation for expanding student and vocational trainee exchange programs, enabling both sides to learn from each other’s experiences and best practices. “Our goal is not only to help farmers improve efficiency in their cultivation techniques but also to create opportunities for them to access, learn, and adopt new technologies and innovative methods throughout the agricultural value chain,” he underlined.

Thuringia stated that it will seek vocational training institutions suited to Viet Nam’s needs and supports the idea of organizing a Viet Nam - Germany Forum on occupational transformation and agricultural human resource development. The state is also ready to cooperate in organizing workshops and field visits to share experiences in cultivation and horticulture.

Regarding vocational certificates for Vietnamese trainees, State Secretary Marcus Malsch explained that Thuringia will explore options for recognizing equivalent qualifications and will assign experts to oversee the training programs to ensure they meet high-quality standards. He further highlighted that Germany has numerous specialists in areas such as fertilizers and post-harvest preservation of agricultural products, particularly in long-term rice storage techniques - fields that he believes will be of significant interest to Viet Nam.

“Regarding the potential for cooperation, Thuringia possesses a diverse and well-developed agricultural sector, featuring large-scale specialized farms, with some units reaching up to 6,000 hectares. These are supported by highly experienced production specialists and agricultural economics experts. We warmly welcome Vietnamese agricultural extension officers to visit, observe, and learn from our practices. We also hope to have the opportunity to conduct field visits to Viet Nam’s agricultural sector soon,” the State Secretary expressed.

During the meeting, representatives from PETKUS Technologie GmbH introduced advanced solutions in rice processing and preservation, designed to maintain the value and quality of rice products over extended periods. They emphasized that such technologies can directly support farmers in improving their livelihoods. The company also expressed a strong interest in collaborating with Viet Nam on technology transfer initiatives and developing sustainable agricultural value chains, highlighting opportunities for long-term partnership and knowledge exchange.