Latest news with #AgricultureandEnvironment
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Vietnam inks deals to buy US$3 Billion US products before talks
Vietnam has pledged to buy more US agricultural products. - Bloomberg HANOI: Vietnamese businesses have signed 20 agreements worth about US$3 billion to import more US agricultural products ahead of the third round of official negotiations set to take place next week. Memoranda of understanding were signed during talks involving Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy in Iowa, Ohio, Maryland and Washington from June 2-6, the ministry said in a statement on Saturday (June 7). "These agreements highlight the strong commitment and goodwill of Vietnam's business community and government to promote balanced trade with the US, and to encourage the Trump administration to reconsider high reciprocal tariffs on Vietnamese goods,' it said. Vietnam has engaged in weeks of intense diplomacy with the US - the largest export market of the trade-reliant country - as it seeks to avert a threatened 46 per cent tariff, which was later wound back to ten per cent for 90 days to allow time for talks. The reference to "goodwill' echoes language used earlier this week, when the South-East Asian nation sent a written reply to US trade requests after the Trump administration vowed to keep pressuring the country to reduce its role in China supply chains. Vietnam cited progress after the second round of trade talks last month but said that outstanding issues remain. It's taken steps to address some US concerns, such as stepping up a crackdown on trade fraud and promising to buy US agricultural products. - Bloomberg
Arabian Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
$3 Billion to Buy U.S. Agricultural Commodities: Vietnam Seeks a Good Deal of Reciprocal Trade Agreement with the U.S.
MoU signing to purchase US agricultural commodities. WASHINGTON D.C, US – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 June 2025 – Vietnam's Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy led a delegation of nearly 50 agencies, agribusinesses, and associations to the United States from June 2–6, 2025, to promote trade and increase imports of agricultural and timber products. The delegation held business dialogues in Iowa, Ohio, Maryland and Washington, D.C. The visit aimed to boost two-way trade and open new opportunities for Vietnam to import more U.S. agrifood and timber, contributing to a more balanced trade relationship. Beyond trade, the delegation also sought access to new technologies to enhance the competitiveness of Vietnam's agricultural value chains. Minister Duy noted that while both countries have strong agricultural sectors, their strengths are complementary rather than competitive. 'With strong support from both governments, agriculture in Vietnam and the U.S. is becoming more interconnected. We now share parts of the same supply chains, which helps increase our competitiveness and benefits producers and consumers in both countries,' the Minister stated. 'Vietnamese agribusinesses are working closely with the government to increase purchases of US agrifood and timber products. This effort supports trade balance and strengthens the supply chain between our two countries, hence contributing to global food security'. He emphasized that this initiative also reflects Vietnam's commitment to deepening trust and advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as the two countries celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations. ADVERTISEMENT During the trip, Vietnamese businesses signed 20 MoUs, worth a total of $3 billion to buy U.S. agricultural commodities. These agreements highlight the strong commitment and goodwill of Vietnam's business community and government to promote balanced trade with the U.S., and to encourage the Trump Administration to reconsider high reciprocal tariffs on Vietnamese goods. The visit was warmly welcomed and highly valued by U.S. partners. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds immediately shared her appreciation on X following her meeting with Minister Do Duc Duy: 'Excited to welcome Vietnam's Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Do Duc Duy, and the whole Vietnamese delegation to Iowa and celebrate the signing of MOUs and purchase agreements for Iowa commodities. The agreements today will help our farmers and strengthen the agricultural supply chain between Vietnam and Iowa'. Following the Governor, Mike Naig, Secretary of Iowa Department of Agriculture, put on X: 'Yesterday, I met with Vietnam's ag minister and a major trade delegation working to strengthen ties with U.S. ag producers. Of the $2B in new MOUs signed, $800M is tied to Iowa'. Brian Baldridge, Ohio Secretary of Agriculture, emphasized during his meeting with Minister Duy that Vietnam and the US, especially Vietnam and Ohio, have complementary strengths, particularly in agricultural trade. Ohio sees strong potentials in Vietnam and recognizes the opportunities to expand bilateral trade. He noted that stakeholders from both sides should explore new ways for farmers, agribusinesses, and associations to collaborate and build strong, integrated supply chains. To support this, both governments should work to remove barriers to agricultural trade. Following the signing of MoUs with Vietnamese partners to purchase more than $600 million worth of animal feed from Ohio, Patty Mann, Chair of the Ohio Corn Checkoff, stated: 'These agreements represent a major win for Ohio corn farmers. Vietnam continues to be a growing and reliable export market, and partnerships like this help ensure we can keep delivering high-quality, Ohio-grown products to the world'. This was elaborated further by Wendy Osborn, Director of Market Development, Ohio Corn and Wheat: 'The MOUs signed today represent potential commitments of significant volumes of agricultural commodities and strategic partnerships that will support Vietnam's growing agricultural sector while providing sustainable markets for Ohio's farm families. These agreements build upon the strong foundation established through years of relationship-building. May these agreements serve as a foundation for many years of continued collaboration and mutual prosperity'. During a roundtable with the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) in Washington D.C, Ted Osius, President and CEO of USABC, expressed strong support for Vietnam's agricultural development: 'Rapid changes in U.S. tariff policies have created a challenging trade environment. We're encouraged that Vietnam is considering increasing imports of agricultural goods to help reduce its trade deficit with the U.S. USABC and its member companies remain committed to supporting the growth of Vietnam's food and agriculture sector'. ADVERTISEMENT In response to the USABC President, Minister Duy reaffirmed the Vietnam government's strong commitment to continuing institutional reforms, improving administrative efficiency, upgrading infrastructure, and creating the most favorable environment for international businesses, including U.S. enterprises, to expand trade and investment with Vietnam in a long-term and effective manner. Roundtable discussion between Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Environment with USABC in Washington DC. During the meeting with Minister Duy, the Chairs of the Agriculture Committees of both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives expressed enthusiasm and optimism about the remarkable outcomes of the Vietnamese delegation's visit to Iowa, Ohio, and Washington, D.C. Senator John Boozman was particularly impressed by Vietnam's robust economic growth and the strong potential for long-term cooperation between the two countries. He highlighted Vietnam's role as a dynamic and reliable economic partner in the Asia-Pacific region. The Senator expressed support for efforts to achieve a fair tariff agreement and pledged to fully convey Vietnam's recommendations to relevant US authorities. Representative Glenn Thompson showed special interest in the high-value deals for US agricultural commodities secured during the Minister's visit. He expressed confidence in the prospects for deeper cooperation between the two agricultural sectors and emphasized the need for the US government to promptly address concerns over the high reciprocal tariffs that may be applied to Vietnam exports. He welcomed Vietnam's decision to commercialize biotechnology-based agricultural products imported from the US, calling it a clear signal of Vietnam's determination to modernize its agriculture and integrate more closely with the US supply chains. Businesses and associations from both countries expressed hope that the Vietnamese and US governments would continue to support bilateral trade and strengthen links across their complementary agricultural supply chains. Their shared goal is to bring tangible benefits to millions of farmers, consumers, and businesses in both countries. As such, businesses on both sides are urging the removal of the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration on Vietnam. The 46% tariff has been reported to harm not only Vietnamese exporters but also U.S. businesses and consumers. Since agrifood is a staple commodity, higher price would place a considerable burden on average-income American households. Moreover, such measures could disrupt the supply chains that both governments and the private sector have worked hard to establish in recent years. Businesses wish for a trade agreement between the U.S. and Vietnam soonly concluded, thereby lowering tariffs on agricultural commodities, reinforcing shared supply chains and contributing to the prosperity of both countries under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Hashtag: #MAE The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The Star
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Vietnam takes steps to address drop in durian exports to China
Vietnam's durian exports to China reached only 35,000 tonnes valued at around US$130 million in the first four months of this year, down from US$500 million in the same period last year. — VNA/VNS HANOI: Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy has called for efforts to coordinate with Chinese customs to address technical challenges that are significantly hindering Vietnam's durian exports following a steep drop in shipment volume in early 2025. A report from the ministry shows that Vietnam's durian exports to China reached only 35,000 tonnes worth around US$130 million in the first four months of this year, equivalent to only 20 per cent of export targets. In comparison, durian exports totalled $500 million in the same period last year. The ministry has attributed the sharp drop in durian exports to China to a lack of clear legal frameworks, quarantine procedures and proper quality management. In addition, the issuance of codes for growing areas, packing facilities and lab systems have yet to meet China's increasingly stringent requirements. In response, Duy said coordination with Chinese customs will be enhanced to resolve technical barriers that are hindering exports. The issuance of codes for growing areas and packing facilities must be sped up, and quarantine procedures must be urgently followed to increase exports and adjust plans accordingly. In the long term, Duy said that the legal system managing exports of agricultural products must be improved, along with technical standards across the entire supply chain, from cultivation and harvesting to processing and export. He stressed that restructuring the durian industry towards sustainability is now pressing. Duy also encouraged the development of value-added durian products, especially frozen durian, to increase value and reduce reliance on fresh durian exports. Vietnam's exports of fruits and vegetables reached US$1.62 billion in the first four months of this year, falling by 14 per cent year-on-year. In the domestic market, durian prices also dropped to around VNĐ35,000–40,000 per kilogramme at the farm, just one-third of the prices over the same period last year. — Vietnam News/ANN
Nahar Net
24-04-2025
- Business
- Nahar Net
UAE offers free-of-charge portable desalination plants to cover Cyprus' water needs
by Naharnet Newsdesk 24 April 2025, 16:27 Cyprus will receive free-of-charge portable desalination plants from the United Arab Emirates to cover the tourism-reliant island nation's water needs this summer as reservoir deposits are nearly depleted, officials said Thursday. Agriculture and Environment Minister Maria Panayiotou told the state broadcaster that the UAE agreed to provide Cyprus, at no cost, an undetermined number of desalination plants that will produce a combined 15,000 cubic meters (530,000 cubic feet) of potable water daily. Panayiotou didn't disclose exactly when the units will arrive and become operational, but she said UAE authorities are aware the need is immediate as the summer tourism season kicks into high gear and water needs reach their peak. She said the deal is the result of secret negotiations over the last few months to cover Cyprus water needs that became acute when a fire knocked out one of its five static desalination plants, resulting in cuts to agricultural water supply. Each onshore unit produces 235,000 cubic meters (8.3 million cubic feet) of fresh water daily. The plant won't be back in operation until August and the portable units from the UAE will cover that lost water capacity, said Panayiotou. Technical staff are still trying to work out exactly where the portable units will be placed to maximize their utility, Panayiotou said. She didn't say when those units will be returned to the UAE. Apart from its own desalination plants, Cyprus continues to rely on an extensive reservoir network with a total capacity of 330 million cubic meters. Water levels across the 108 reservoirs — the most relative to population than any other European country — are less than a quarter of their capacity following the second-driest winter in a decade. Reservoirs were at 47.2% capacity in 2024, official figures show. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides disclosed the UAE deal during an interview with local TV station ANT1, hailing the agreement as the result of Cyprus' expanded diplomatic outreach and the friendly relations it has developed particularly with the Emirates and other countries in the region. Panayiotou said irrespective of the UAE assistance, the government's medium- and long-term planning to permanently alleviate the island's water shortages is moving ahead. The planning includes the procurement of four additional mobile desalination plants expected to begin operating in late autumn, each capable of producing 30,000 cubic meters (1 million cubic feet) of drinkable water daily. Another two static desalination plants will be built over the long term, each with a 140,000 cubic meter (5 million cubic feet) daily output. Panayiotou unveiled last month a government plan to subsidize construction of private desalination plants at hotels. Tourism accounts for 13.5% of Cyprus' gross domestic product. Tourist arrivals last year exceeded 4 million people, setting a new record.
The Independent
24-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
UAE offers free-of-charge portable desalination plants to cover arid Cyprus' summer water needs
Cyprus will receive free-of-charge portable desalination plants from the United Arab Emirates to cover the tourism-reliant island nation's water needs this summer as reservoir deposits are nearly depleted, officials said Thursday. Agriculture and Environment Minister Maria Panayiotou told the state broadcaster that the UAE agreed to provide Cyprus, at no cost, an undetermined number of desalination plants that will produce a combined 15,000 cubic meters (530,000 cubic feet) of potable water daily. Panayiotou didn't disclose exactly when the units will arrive and become operational, but she said UAE authorities are aware the need is immediate as the summer tourism season kicks into high gear and water needs reach their peak. She said the deal is the result of secret negotiations over the last few months to cover Cyprus water needs that became acute when a fire knocked out one of its five static desalination plants, resulting in cuts to agricultural water supply. Each onshore unit produces 235,000 cubic meters (8.3 million cubic feet) of fresh water daily. The plant won't be back in operation until August and the portable units from the UAE will cover that lost water capacity, said Panayiotou. Technical staff are still trying to work out exactly where the portable units will be placed to maximize their utility, Panayiotou said. She didn't say when those units will be returned to the UAE. Apart from its own desalination plants, Cyprus continues to rely on an extensive reservoir network with a total capacity of 330 million cubic meters. Water levels across the 108 reservoirs — the most relative to population than any other European country — are less than a quarter of their capacity following the second-driest winter in a decade. Reservoirs were at 47.2% capacity in 2024, official figures show. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides disclosed the UAE deal during an interview with local TV station ANT1, hailing the agreement as the result of Cyprus' expanded diplomatic outreach and the friendly relations it has developed particularly with the Emirates and other countries in the region. Panayiotou said irrespective of the UAE assistance, the government's medium- and long-term planning to permanently alleviate the island's water shortages is moving ahead. The planning includes the procurement of four additional mobile desalination plants expected to begin operating in late autumn, each capable of producing 30,000 cubic meters (1 million cubic feet) of drinkable water daily. Another two static desalination plants will be built over the long term, each with a 140,000 cubic meter (5 million cubic feet) daily output. Panayiotou unveiled last month a government plan to subsidize construction of private desalination plants at hotels. Tourism accounts for 13.5% of Cyprus' gross domestic product. Tourist arrivals last year exceeded 4 million people, setting a new record.
