As part of the official visit to Finland by General Secretary To Lam and his spouse, along with the high-level Vietnamese delegation, on October 22 (local time in Finland), Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam Tran Duc Thang held a meeting with Ms. Sari Essayah, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland. The two sides reached a consensus on initiating future investment and cooperation programs between their respective ministries.
During the meeting, both ministers reviewed over two decades of cooperation, during which Finland has provided more than EUR 33 million (equivalent to USD 42.5 million) in support to Vietnam’s agricultural sector through various programs and projects. Numerous community-based forest management models, land-use planning initiatives, and social forestry approaches have been successfully piloted.
Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam Tran Duc Thang met with Ms. Sari Essayah, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland. Photo: Manh Tuong.In 2024, the Vietnam - Finland trade volume reached USD 422 million. In the first seven months of 2025, Vietnam’s export turnover to Finland stood at USD 216 million. Finland currently has 37 investment projects in Vietnam, with a total registered capital of USD 50.8 million.
In the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors, export turnover in the third quarter of 2025 reached USD 18.47 billion, up 14%. Specifically, Vietnam’s exports to Finland in the first eight months of the year totaled USD 2.13 million, while imports reached USD 5.88 million, mainly consisting of wood and wood products.
In forestry alone, the two countries have enjoyed 20 years of effective cooperation, focusing on forest plantation, forest resource monitoring, payments for forest environmental services, database development, and policy formulation for the forestry sector. Finland currently serves both as an importer of raw timber and an exporter of wood products to Vietnam. Several community-based forest management models, land-use planning initiatives, and social forestry practices have produced positive outcomes.
Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang presented a souvenir to Minister Sari Essayah. Photo: Manh Tuong.On this occasion, the two sides also discussed the opening of markets for agricultural, food, and animal-based products. Vietnam has approved eight Finnish meat processing facilities and twelve seafood facilities, and is currently reviewing applications for animal protein powder, expected to be finalized by the end of October 2025. Conversely, the EU has opened its market to Vietnamese honey, fishmeal, cricket protein, and feathers.
Looking ahead, both countries agreed to prioritize cooperation in science and technology, environment, and clean energy. Other areas of focus include agricultural technology cooperation, forest management, post-harvest preservation, cold-water aquaculture, and trade in high-quality coffee and timber. Finland will assist Vietnam in addressing the EU’s “yellow card” on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and, together with the EU, support Vietnam’s implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) on deforestation-free commodities.
In addition, Finland proposed strengthening cooperation with Vietnam in water resource management, especially groundwater, alongside sustainable management, protection, and utilization of forest resources. Finland also invited Vietnam to attend the upcoming Water Summit in Vienna, Austria.
Concluding the meeting, Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam Tran Duc Thang and Finland’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah reaffirmed their determination to elevate Vietnam - Finland cooperation in agriculture, forestry, and environment to new heights, contributing to green and sustainable development.