Cold storage of fruit and vegetable holds the key for export to Belgium and Europe

Belgium is a gateway for Vietnamese agricultural products to Europe and can play a crucial facilitating role for the export of Vietnamese agricultural products to Europe, said Belgium Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr. Paul Jansen.

Mr Ambassador Paul Jansen visits a dragon fruit garden in south central regions of Vietnam, which had received a non refundable project from Belgium.

Belgium has more than 30,000 square kilometers, in which the agricultural land proportion in 2018 was 44.7%, more than Vietnam. Which policy has Belgium had to achieve this proportion?

There was no specific policy or plan to reach 44.7% . It has evolved that way historically through private initiatives of individual farmers.

As the connection intermediary between Vietnam and the EU, which policies has Belgium had and will have in the coming time to support Vietnam?

In 2018, Belgium and Vietnam signed a strategic partnership on sustainable agriculture. The partnership supports mutual cooperation in the field of development cooperation, academic research on sustainable agriculture, innovation, trade, investment, logistics. The implementation of this partnership will be continued.

With its big seaports (such as port of Antwerp), Belgium is a gateway for Vietnamese agricultural products to Europe and can play a crucial facilitating role for the export of Vietnamese agricultural products to Europe.

Belgium's FDI investment in Vietnam is not as proportional as the two countries' trade relationships. What is the leading in this situation? In the coming time, does Belgium intend to promote investment in agriculture?

Belgium’s FDI in Vietnam is growing, and certainly also in the agricultural sector. Belgian companies have invested significantly in agricultural storage, logistics and the cocoa sector. Puratos Grand Place is the biggest investor in the cocoa/ chocolate industry in Vietnam and Entobel is investing in innovative approaches to turn organic waste into animal feed (waste to food!).

Recently (as another example) Bel Gà opened its Hi-tech Poultry Hatchery in Tay Ninh. This is the 2nd poultry hatchery build by Bel Gà after the first one in Lam Dong province.

Bel Gà is GAP certified and is an example of the Belgian sustainable approaches in the agricultural sector in Vietnam, offering innovation, tech transfer, food safety standards, bio security, and employment to the poultry sector in Vietnam. This is also the spirit of the strategic partnership on the agricultural sector that was signed between Belgium and Vietnam in 2018, focusing specifically on sustainability and striving to strengthen the agricultural sector.

What do you think about agricultural cooperation prospects between Belgium and Vietnam? What are the prospects for Vietnamese agricultural products in the Belgian market in particular and Europe in general?

If Vietnam manages to improve the cold storage of fruit and vegetables, the export to Belgium and Europe can increase significantly.

At this moment, Belgium supports Tra Vinh province in a cold storage project for the export of Mekong Delta fruit.

Belgium is opening its door for Vietnamese vegetables and fruits, a breakthrough in Vietnam's agriculture exports. Can you tell us about the negotiation process to get this decision?

This negotiation process is not a bilateral Belgian-Vietnamese process, but a negotiation process with the EU.

In the context of Covid-19, logistics is one of the most concerning issues in supply chains. Which projects has Belgium had for Vietnam to link raw material areas with seaports?

Belgium gives support to the development of the cold chain for fruit and vegetables in Tra Vinh.

Belgium companies have a lot of expertise to offer in the development of seaports and the related logistics.

Belgium is currently the largest potato exporter and processor in the world. What experience can Belgium share with Vietnam’s processed agricultural products?

Belgium and Vietnam have a rich academic cooperation on agricultural related topics, and food processing in particular. The main partners are the Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Can Tho University, and Nong Lam University (HCMC).

Vietnam is one of Belgium's major agricultural partners. In your opinion, to continue to develop this cooperation, what should the two countries do?

We should continue further implementation of the strategic partnership on agriculture. Increase cooperation in the sector of logistics and port development. Continue the excellent current academic joint research between Vietnamese universities (VNUA, Can Tho, Nong Lam, Hue) and Belgian universities on agriculture and continue the cooperation with Rikolto NGO on safe food.

Thank you very much!