Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh on March 19 highlighted potential cooperation with Hungary in mineral technologies and e-waste recycling, seen as key to advancing a circular economy.
At a meeting in Hanoi on March 19, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh received Szabolcs Stejer, Director of Hungary’s Nemesfém Kft., to discuss potential cooperation in geology and mineral resources.
Talks focus on sustainable mineral technologies
Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh said recent revisions to the Law on Geology and Minerals have created more favorable conditions for research institutions and businesses to access and apply advanced technologies. This provides an important foundation for Viet Nam to attract international cooperation, particularly as the need to align mineral extraction and processing with environmental protection becomes more urgent.
He reiterated Viet Nam’s policy of not sacrificing the environment for economic growth, emphasizing that environmental protection must be integrated into development processes. Resource extraction, he said, should go hand in hand with improving efficiency, minimizing environmental impacts, and promoting sustainable development.
“Viet Nam has significant mineral resource potential. We are keen to learn from more advanced countries to ensure efficient extraction, turning mineral resources into a driver of development rather than an environmental burden,” the Deputy Minister said.
Director Szabolcs Stejer said Nemesfém Kft. has extensive experience in metal extraction and processing, particularly precious metals, and is ready to share proven technologies to help Viet Nam shorten research and testing timelines.
The two sides also discussed potential cooperation with Vietnamese research institutions, including the Vietnam Institute of Rare Elements Technology, to develop solutions suited to local conditions and move toward mapping the distribution and potential of mineral resources.
E-waste recycling highlighted as key cooperation area
In addition to mineral resources, Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh highlighted e-waste recycling as a promising area for cooperation, describing it as an increasingly important source of secondary raw materials.
With a population of over 100 million, Viet Nam is seeing a rapid rise in discarded electrical and electronic equipment, while recycling activities remain largely rudimentary and recovery value is limited. In this context, access to advanced technologies to recover precious metals such as gold and silver from e-waste is seen as a viable pathway.
Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh noted that many countries now treat e-waste as a valuable resource, with some even importing it for recycling. He said this presents an opportunity for Hungarian companies, given their technological strengths and practical experience, to invest in Viet Nam.
The Hungarian side expressed interest in establishing long-term cooperation, not only in technology transfer but also in developing production chains that meet European standards. Domestic production would be prioritized where feasible, while equipment and components not yet available locally would be imported.
All proposed technology lines would comply with strict European environmental regulations and aim to produce environmentally friendly outputs, Director Szabolcs Stejer said. Hungary’s experience in developing circular economy models, particularly in recovering precious metals from e-waste, is considered aligned with Viet Nam’s development priorities.
The meeting outlined concrete directions for cooperation in both mineral resource development and secondary resource recovery. These are expected to form the basis for future projects to strengthen technological capacity and support sustainable development in Viet Nam’s natural resources and environment sector.
On September 4, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung met with Ms. Kanni Wignaraja, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Deputy Administrator, and Director for the Asia-Pacific Region. The meeting underscored the crucial role of UNDP in supporting Vietnam’s sustainable development goals, environmental protection, and green transition efforts. The discussions came as Vietnam is preparing to finalize its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) and implement programs on waste management and green energy development.
On September 3, at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang held talks with the Cuban Minister of Agriculture, Ydael Jesús Pérez Brito. Both sides affirmed that agriculture remains a central pillar of bilateral cooperation. Building on the positive outcomes of pilot rice production models and the potential to expand into other areas, the two countries expressed their determination to deepen collaboration toward food security and sustainable development.
On August 27, 2025, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung met with representatives of Dragonberry Produce (United States) following the company’s success in introducing fresh Vietnamese lychees into major U.S. retail chains. Both sides agreed to jointly establish a post-harvest packing and treatment facility in northern Vietnam, standardize irradiation procedures, expand the export portfolio to passion fruit and guava, and promote the creation of the “Vietnam specialty produce” brand for distinctive Vietnamese agricultural products.
On August 27 in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung received a courtesy visit from the delegation of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, led by Major General TNI., MAR. (Ret.) Sturman Panjaitan, Member of Parliament and Vice Chairman of the Committee. The meeting took place at a time when Vietnam-Indonesia relations are entering a new phase of development in 2025, underpinned by the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the milestone of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Both sides shared practical experiences and discussed key directions for cooperation in agriculture, environment, and sustainable development.
On August 19 in Ha Noi, Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang received Ms. Pauline Tamesis, the UN Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam. Taking place as Vietnam is finalizing its third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) in preparation for COP30, the meeting underscored not only Vietnam’s political determination in responding to climate change but also the UN’s long-term commitment to supporting the country through finance, technology, and policy cooperation towards the Sustainable Development Goals and Net Zero.
