HA NOI — A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Wednesday between the industry and agriculture ministries, to promote cooperation in the production of agro-forestry-fishery products till 2020.

Under the MoU, signed in Ha Noi by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the two ministries will work closely to improve output and quality of products and add value as per market demand. It touches upon lifting non-tariff barriers, exploring export markets and conducting promotional trade activities and brand building.

The ministries will jointly manage the local market, fight smuggling and counterfeit agro, forestry and fishery products, push for mechanisation and electrification in rural areas, lure investment into these sectors, strengthen state management and develop craft villages. 

Tran Tuan Anh, minister of industry and trade, said the two ministries have created specific action programmes to enhance production as well as consumption of agro, forestry and fishery products.

Minister of agriculture and rural development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said that between now and the end of the year, the two ministries will direct the production and consumption of major products such as vegetables, pork meat, milk, shrimp, tra fish and rice to achieve an agro-forestry-fishery export target of US$31 billion for 2016. 

In the past, the two ministries have joined hands to adopt trade defence measures, conducted trade promotion programmes at home and abroad, connected supply and demand for stability in the local market, controlled the quality of agricultural materials, agro, forestry and fishery products, electrified rural areas, and invested in irrigation for agriculture. — VNS