Today, New Zealand Ambassador to Viet Nam Tredene Dobson presented a signed Export Plan for Fresh Fruit to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The Ambassador officially also announced new access for Vietnamese pomelos and limes to New Zealand.
The announcement was made at the “AgriConnectioNZ: New Zealand and Viet Nam – Strategic Partners in Agriculture Expo” in Hanoi.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the New Zealand Prime Minister, along with New Zealand Minister of Agriculture, Trade and Export Growth Hon Damien O’Connor and Vietnam Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Mr Le Minh Hoan.
Pomelo and lime are the fourth and fifth fruit able to be exported from Viet Nam to New Zealand, after mango, dragon fruit and rambutan.
In the New Zealand – Viet Nam Strategic Partnership Action Plan, both countries agreed to encourage further growth in two-way trade, and signing of the Export Plan for Vietnamese citrus is an important step forward.
New Zealand Ambassador to Viet Nam, Her Excellency Tredene Dobson said today’s event marked a milestone in the agricultural co-operation between the two countries: “Agriculture is not just a critical component of our two countries’ economies – it is part of our cultural identity.
“New Zealand and Viet Nam are natural partners in the agriculture sector as we navigate a changing world that presents great challenges and even greater opportunity.
“We’re excited to welcome Vietnamese pomelos and limes into New Zealand, and we look forward to future opportunities to supply more of our delicious, high-quality fruit to Viet Nam.”
According to MARD Minister Le Minh Hoan, “This new Access for Viet Nam’s pomelos and limes to New Zealand will be good news for Vietnam’s exporters and is important in reinforcing the two-way nature of trade between New Zealand and Viet Nam in agricultural commodities.”
The AgriConnectioNZ Expo also brought together participants from relevant government departments, research institutions, and top agricultural and export companies from both New Zealand and Viet Nam to showcase how New Zealand’s technical expertise and innovation in the agriculture sector can help support Viet Nam’s agriculture sector to be more internationally competitive.
The Expo was organised by the New Zealand Embassy to support the Government of Viet Nam’s goal to enhance the quality and productivity of its agricultural sector.
Two-way trade between New Zealand and Viet Nam has grown 40 percent in the last five years to reach $2.3 billion New Zealand dollars in 2022 and Viet Nam was New Zealand’s 14th largest trading partner.
