A cashew processing line at P/A Company in southern province of Binh Phuoc. — Photo vinacas.vn

Standing Vice Chairman of the HCM City’s People Committee Le Thanh Liem on Monday discussed measures to promote bilateral co-operation, particularly economic, with minister and secretary general of the presidency of the Ivory Coast, Achi Patrick.

He believed that the visit by the West African guest would help boost economic ties and friendship between Viet Nam and the Ivory Coast.

Highlighting the thriving bilateral trade, which recently exceeded US$1 billion and made Ivory Coast Viet Nam’s top trade partner in Africa, he described the country as a promising market for Vietnamese agricultural products and an important raw materials supplier for Viet Nam.

HCM City is prioritising high-tech agriculture and bio-technology to achieve value-addition and the two sides have huge potential for collaboration, he said.

Patrick said he was impressed by the city’s dynamism, and hoped to learn from Viet Nam’s experience in national construction and development, including poverty alleviation and attraction of foreign investment.

He said the two sides should work together in agriculture, including aquaculture, for mutual benefit.

Promoting cashew processing

Ivory Coast has 1.4 million hectares under cashew and is the leading position in the world in term of cashew production with average productivity of 500kg per ha.

However, only 8 per cent of the output is processed for export, Patrick said.

In Viet Nam, Binh Phuoc is the main cashew growing province.

Patrick said his country wants to co-operate with businesses in the south central Binh Phuoc Province to promote cashew processing.

Huynh Anh Minh, vice chairman of the province People’s Committee, hailed the opportunity for co-operation in cashew processing with Ivory Coast.

Binh Phuoc has half the country’s total area under cashew.

Yet, it cannot meet the demand from processors, who therefore have to import raw cashew, Minh added. — VNS