On November 15, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand's Minister of Trade and Export Growth and Minister of Agriculture Damien O'Connor and Vietnam's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan testified the Announcement Ceremony of Vietnam's lemon and pomelo exports to New Zealand.
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us, pomelo and lemon are the two fruits of Vietnam that are exported to New Zealand after mango, dragon fruit and rambutan.
New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Tredene Dobson said the event marked an important milestone in agricultural cooperation between the two countries.
Ambassador Tredene Dobson said, “Agriculture is not only an important component of our two countries' economies – it is also part of our cultural identity. We are delighted to welcome Vietnamese pomelo and lemon into New Zealand.”
The New Zealand Prime Minister said that many New Zealanders would be happy when Vietnam provided lemons and grapefruits to New Zealand.
“I also look forward to seeing New Zealand favorite restaurants creatively incorporate fruits such as grapefruit, rambutan and dragon fruit on their menus,” said Ms. Jacinda Ardern.
Also, Minister Le Minh Hoan believed that, through the important visit of PM Jacinda Ardern and a high-level delegation, representatives of the New Zealand business community and the agricultural sector.
The businesses of the two countries continue to "tell each other meaningful stories, understand each other better, and get closer".
According to Mr. Le Minh Hoan, agricultural cooperation is an important pillar in the cooperation relationship between Vietnam and New Zealand.
Vietnam highly appreciates New Zealand's interest in the agricultural sector, focusing on knowledge and technology transfer in the areas of market development for agricultural products, high quality plant varieties, animal quarantine, vegetation, dam safety and reservoir operation, food safety, greenhouse gas emission reduction in livestock, etc.
The trade value of agriculture, forestry and fishery in 2021 will reach nearly 550 million USD, accounting for 41% of the total bilateral trade turnover. The two sides signed an Agreement to facilitate the clearance of agricultural, forestry and fishery products, through the use of electronic certificates in July 2020.
Currently, the working groups of the two countries are taking steps to test the electronic certification system and promote market opening procedures for agricultural products.
Mr Hoan hoped that Vietnamese and New Zealand businesses would cooperate in building and developing high-tech agricultural value chains, promoting connectivity between the two countries and with the global market.
With the message of "accompanying, creating development" and "our potential - your opportunity", Minister Le Minh Hoan affirmed, Vietnam's agricultural industry will create favorable conditions for New Zealand’s enterprises to enhance investment successfully, sustainably, closely and long-term.
On the same day, AgriConnectioNZ: New Zealand and Vietnam - Strategic Partners in Agriculture Exhibition took place in Hanoi. ■
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