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.
The agreement was reached at a meeting on January 5 at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, where Deputy Minister Hoang Trung met with Mr. Ralph Bean, Agricultural Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Viet Nam. The two sides discussed coordination to enhance Viet Nam’s food safety capacity, agricultural supply chains and access to trade finance.
U.S.-funded project to support Viet Nam’s food safety and agricultural supply chains
At the meeting, U.S. Agricultural Counselor Ralph Bean said the USDA is preparing to launch the TAFSE project in Vietnam, with Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC) serving as the implementing organization.
Planned for the 2026–2030 period, the project is designed as a comprehensive program to support Viet Nam in strengthening its food safety system, modernizing agricultural supply and logistics chains—particularly for perishable products—and expanding access to trade finance. The project aims to facilitate agricultural imports and exports and promote stable, sustainable bilateral agricultural trade between Viet Nam and the United States.
According to the project director, TAFSE has four core objectives. The first is to strengthen Viet Nam’s food safety system by supporting improvements in inspection, certification, registration and monitoring procedures, with priority given to digitalizing management processes and enhancing animal disease reporting and surveillance capacity.
The project also aims to improve the efficiency of agricultural supply chains, particularly for perishable commodities, through workforce training on international standards for storage, transportation and post-harvest handling. It will support upgrades to cold storage facilities and smart logistics systems to help maintain product quality throughout distribution.
In addition, TAFSE seeks to expand access to finance for agricultural trade by introducing appropriate financial instruments, supporting Vietnamese enterprises in meeting lender requirements, reducing risks for financial institutions and gradually developing pilot trade transactions with U.S. partners.
The project is also intended to support Viet Nam’s long-term objectives on innovation, private sector development and deeper international economic integration, contributing to improved competitiveness of Vietnamese agricultural products in global markets.
Viet Nam designates lead agency for TAFSE project
Deputy Minister Hoang Trung welcomed continued cooperation with the United States, noting the effectiveness of previous U.S.-supported projects. He said the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment supports the TAFSE project and is committed to working closely with U.S. partners and the implementing organization to complete project documentation in line with Vietnamese law.
Deputy Minister Hoang Trung said the project’s objectives are aligned with Vietnam’s agricultural and environmental development priorities, particularly efforts to strengthen food safety management, meet international standards and promote sustainable agricultural trade. The ministry agreed to designate the Agricultural Projects Management Board as the focal agency, coordinating with relevant ministries and agencies to ensure cross-sector implementation.
Regarding the development of key performance indicators required under U.S. government regulations, Viet Nam expressed strong support and readiness to coordinate initial assessments, expected to begin in early 2026. The ministry also said it would assist IESC in completing necessary procedures to establish an office and operate in Viet Nam.
U.S. Agricultural Counselor Ralph Bean said Vietnam remains a priority country under the Food for Progress Program. In 2025, the USDA approved two projects related to food safety and tilapia development in Viet Nam, with TAFSE being a comprehensive initiative covering animal and plant production, processing, trade, customs, inspection and finance.
Both sides agreed to continue close coordination to finalize project documentation, establish effective cooperation mechanisms and gradually roll out activities on schedule, contributing to a more substantive, sustainable and mutually beneficial Viet Nam–U.S. agricultural partnership.
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On November 5, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam, in collaboration with the Vietnam Water and Environment Association and the Northern Federation for water resources planning and investigation, convened the 23rd meeting of the Asia Water Council (AWC) and the AWC 2025 technical workshop under the theme “Sustainable water governance, digital transformation, and investment cooperation for the future.” The event provided a platform for policymakers, scientists, and international organizations to share experiences, foster cooperation, and discuss technological solutions for sustainable water resource management across Asia.
As Vietnam faces increasing impacts of climate change, promoting the circular economy and advancing sustainable agricultural technologies play a crucial role in building a green and resilient agriculture sector.
