Viet Nam and Sri Lanka are seeking stronger cooperation in fertilizers and farm technology, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung said during talks with Sri Lankan Ambassador to Vietnam Poshitha Perera in Hanoi on April 28.
At the meeting, Deputy Minister Hoang Trung said agricultural cooperation between Viet Nam and Sri Lanka had recently advanced through a number of specific programs focusing on fisheries, livestock, and animal health. The two countries have also signed several cooperation agreements that have produced initial positive results.
Although bilateral trade in agricultural, forestry, and fishery products remains modest, the deputy minister said there was significant room for growth, particularly as the two agricultural economies share similarities and have complementary strengths.
He said the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment hoped to work closely with the Sri Lankan Embassy to turn cooperation priorities into concrete projects based on Sri Lanka’s needs. Viet Nam asked Sri Lanka to clarify the list of agricultural machinery proposed for pilot support programs, as well as the receiving entities, to ensure effective implementation.
Regarding fertilizers, the ministry has received Sri Lanka’s proposal and has proactively connected it with domestic enterprises, he said.
Viet Nam is also ready to broaden cooperation in research and the transfer of science and technology for crop production and livestock farming, Hoang Trung added.
He praised Sri Lanka’s tea industry, known for its high-quality varieties, and said the sector could provide opportunities for both sides to share expertise.
Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Poshitha Perera thanked the ministry’s leadership for the reception and acknowledged recent positive progress in agricultural cooperation between the two countries, particularly in fisheries.
According to the ambassador, as Sri Lanka has faced challenges in agricultural production, Viet Nam has provided timely information and shared experience that helped strengthen Sri Lanka’s production capacity. Fertilizers and technology transfer have been identified as key pillars of future cooperation.
He added that, in the long term, Viet Nam-Sri Lanka agricultural cooperation would not only support production development but also create opportunities to increase bilateral trade value.
With concrete directions identified, particularly in fertilizers and agricultural machinery technology, cooperation between Viet Nam and Sri Lanka is expected to deliver tangible results soon and further strengthen practical, efficient, and sustainable agricultural trade.
Viet Nam and the United States have agreed to strengthen cooperation in developing and implementing the “Trade in Agriculture and Food Safety Expanded” (TAFSE) project under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food for Progress Program.
Reviewing the performance of the agriculture and environment sector in 2025 and the 2021–2025 period, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the Ministry’s growing role in integrating agricultural development with natural resource governance and environmental protection, contributing to Viet Nam’s socio-economic growth and international commitments.
Amid mounting environmental challenges across the region, Viet Nam continues to uphold its role as the national focal point and coordinator in ASEAN environmental cooperation, participating fully and responsibly in regional mechanisms and cooperation programs. At the same time, practical implementation has underscored the need to renew participation approaches, moving toward greater proactiveness and closer alignment with national policy priorities.
After one year of implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has completed a large volume of tasks related to science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation, with no overdue assignments. At a review conference held on December 23, participants assessed initial results while highlighting key challenges and priorities for the next phase, as the focus shifts from task completion to generating tangible impacts for governance, production, and livelihoods.
In 2025, international cooperation across Viet Nam’s agriculture and environment sector was carried out with unprecedented intensity and an increasing emphasis on substance. From policy advisory on international integration to market access negotiations and the resolution of trade barriers, the year’s results demonstrate that international integration is no longer confined to expanding external relations, but is gradually emerging as a key lever for mobilizing resources and opening new pathways for sustainable development across agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and environmental management.
