Speaking at the seminar "Market trends and export opportunities for Vietnamese agricultural products and processed foods to international distribution systems" on June 7th, Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang emphasized that Vietnam has risen to become a leading agricultural supplier in the world.

Vietnam's coffee, cashews, pepper, and rice are all among the top exporters globally. Free trade agreements (FTAs) have brought great competitive advantages to Vietnamese agricultural products, helping to attract foreign investment and promote participation in the global supply chain.

In reality, the export of agricultural products and food has always been a bright spot for the economy. The export turnover of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products in the first 5 months of 2024 is estimated at 24.14 billion USD, an impressive 21% growth compared to the same period in 2023. The United States, China, and Japan continue to be Vietnam's key agricultural export markets.

Notably, the export turnover of many deeply processed products has grown significantly. Coffee increased by 44.1%, rice by 38.2%, and fruits and vegetables by 28.1% over the same period last year.

Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang added that the Government is implementing many policies to support the agricultural sector in transitioning from raw exports to processed exports, applying high technology, and attracting investment in food processing.

However, Vietnam's agricultural export industry is also facing major challenges such as:

• Increasingly stringent quality standards and origin regulations: Import markets are increasingly demanding in terms of quality, food safety, and traceability.
• Rising protectionism: Trade and geopolitical conflicts have led many countries to strengthen domestic production protection, causing difficulties for Vietnam's exports.
• Sustainable development trends: Major markets are moving towards reducing carbon emissions and protecting the environment, requiring Vietnamese businesses to quickly adapt.

To overcome these challenges, Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang called on relevant agencies to shift from an agricultural production mindset to a sustainable agricultural economy mindset. Businesses need to improve quality, diversify products, and develop industry value chains to keep up with international market trends.

Thuy Linh