Viet Nam, Congo cooperation to unlock agricultural potential

On September 25, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment received and held a working session with Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

At recent meetings, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has expressed its desire to strengthen cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in the areas of food crop development, poultry farming and aquaculture.

This country has roughly 80 million hectares of arable land, while its abundant rivers, lakes and water resources offer significant investment opportunities in aquaculture. However, only around 10% of this potential has been exploited.

Given the potential and practical needs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Deputy Minister Dang Ngoc Diep proposed that the two sides focus on sharing experience, technical solutions and agricultural production technologies suited to the country’s specific conditions. He also suggested promoting linkages among research institutes, training institutions and specialized centers of the two countries in research, breeding and varietal development, improving production processes, and developing climate-resilient agricultural models.

Based on these efforts, the two sides could develop specific pilot models by identifying priority locations and agricultural sectors.

Deputy Minister Dang Ngoc Diep also asked Ambassador François Balumuene Nkuna to support efforts to connect the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Viet Nam with relevant focal agencies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to explore the development of a MoU on cooperation in agriculture and environment, facilitate partnerships, and mobilize resources through South-South and triangular cooperation.

“Viet Nam always attaches importance to its friendship with African countries, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a partner with considerable room for expanding cooperation and strengthening diplomatic relations,” the Deputy Minister emphasized. He also expressed support for expanding cooperation with the Democratic Republic of the Congo in agricultural education and training.

Ambassador François Balumuene Nkuna affirmed the Congolese government’s interest in promoting friendship and cooperation with Viet Nam, particularly on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1961 - 2026). The Ambassador thanked the Vietnamese side for receiving the delegation and noted that direct exchanges provide a foundation for the two sides to broaden dialogue and develop substantive cooperation.

The Ambassador said that the Democratic Republic of the Congo wishes to learn from and adopt Viet Nam’s experience and technical expertise, including through stronger cooperation with Vietnamese research and training institutions like Viet Nam National University of Agriculture. He expressed hope for joint research programs and exchanges of experts, students, and trainees between educational institutions in the two countries, to develop the human resources needed for agricultural development.

The Ambassador affirmed that the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is ready to work alongside its Vietnamese counterparts, support connections with relevant partners, and facilitate opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to learn about the Congolese investment environment. The Congolese side also expressed its wish to exchange a draft Memorandum of Understanding at an early date, providing a basis for considering the signing of a specific cooperation framework in agriculture and related fields.

Based on the proposals put forward at the meeting, agricultural cooperation between Viet Nam and the Democratic Republic of the Congo will proceed step by step, beginning with identifying needs and priority sectors, followed by connections among government agencies, research institutes, and educational institutions. The aim is to translate the Congo’s potential in land and water resources, as well as its development needs, into practical cooperation programs with clear areas of focus and effective implementation.

Kieu Chi