On the afternoon of May 13, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep held a vital working session with Venezuelan Ambassador to Vietnam Juan Carlos Fernandes Juare to promote and expand bilateral cooperation in agriculture, fisheries, and investment.
During the meeting, both sides affirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation to effectively tap into the vast potential of agricultural production, especially in key sectors such as rice, aquaculture, and livestock. In addition, Vietnam and Venezuela are also looking to broaden their collaboration in the mining sector, contributing to the diversification of economic relations and strengthening bilateral investment ties.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep held a vital working session with Venezuelan Ambassador to Vietnam Juan Carlos Fernandes Juare. Photo: Kieu Chi. Ambassador Juan Carlos Fernandes Juare expressed Venezuela’s desire to foster a favorable investment environment and create opportunities for businesses from both countries to form joint ventures and partnerships in production and trade. He also emphasized the pivotal role of the AGROALBA project in Venezuela’s agricultural development strategy — a key national program aimed at attracting investment and advancing agrarian production, livestock farming, and the export of non-oil commodities.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep recognized Venezuela’s significant advantages in large-scale agricultural land and the potential for fisheries development. He stressed the need for close coordination to capitalize on these strengths fully and affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to active participation in joint projects through existing legal frameworks and cooperation mechanisms.
The two sides discussed the Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Development Cooperation for the 2024–2030 Period between Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Venezuela’s Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. This MoU is an essential legal foundation for advancing bilateral cooperation activities in the years ahead.
Notably, Deputy Minister Hiep proposed organizing a trade promotion conference in tandem with the AGROALBA Exhibition to help Vietnamese businesses access information on policies, import-export procedures, and agricultural production materials in Venezuela. This is viewed as a strategic move to stimulate trade, expand investment, and foster practical cooperation between the two nations.
Ambassador Juare reaffirmed the Venezuelan Government's commitment to providing legal support, land, and production conditions to maximize the success of cooperative projects, including those involving Vietnamese enterprises. He also hoped that Vietnam would continue leveraging its agricultural development expertise to build sustainable joint ventures and partnerships, thereby enhancing production and export capacity.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to expand cooperation in agriculture and fisheries and mining investment. Both sides pledged to accelerate joint programs, address existing challenges, and create a favorable legal framework to develop a comprehensive, in-depth, and sustainable partnership in the future.