The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, Luis Planas, and the Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam, Nguyen Hoang Hiep, at the agreement-signing ceremony (Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo)
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, and the Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Nguyen Hoang Hiep, have signed a memorandum of collaboration on food quality and safety in Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital, which, in addition to strengthening cooperation between the two countries, should lay the foundations for opening up trade exchanges. This signing takes place within the framework of the official visit of the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Minister Planas pointed out that "there is ample room to increase exchanges between the two countries" and expressed confidence that the memorandum, which last for three years, "will mark a milestone in bilateral collaboration in food safety and quality, animal and plant health and in the field of fisheries".
With regard to the possibilities of strengthening trade relations, the minister emphasised that Spain and the European Union are stable trading partners that comply with the rules of the World Trade Organization. "We have been establishing trade relations with countries and blocs for years in a climate of trust, loyalty, mutual respect and strict compliance with the rules of the game," he said.
Planas also stressed that animal and plant health is one of the pillars underpinning the competitiveness of Spain's agri-food sector, which he said is the seventh largest exporter in the world.
The memorandum outlines areas of cooperation such as the exchange of information on food safety and animal and plant health legislation in Vietnam and the European Union, the promotion of relations between companies from both countries in the conservation and processing of agricultural products, and the promotion of trade and investment cooperation in the framework of international fairs.
It also envisages closer cooperation on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs, wines and spirits (protected geographical indications and organic production) and the fight against food fraud. The memorandum also includes the consideration of the fertiliser sector as a strategic sector for ensuring food security and increasing the resilience of the agri-food sector.
In fisheries, this includes cooperation in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and the enforcement of fisheries legislation at sea.
The memorandum foresees the creation of a working group between representatives of the ministries of agriculture of the two countries to coordinate cooperation issues and the development of training and technical staff exchange programmes.
The agri-food trade balance between Spain and Vietnam is currently favourable to the Asian country. In 2024, Spain bought 659 million euros worth of goods from the country, of which almost two thirds (64%) were for coffee. Spanish exports totalled 114 million euros, with meat meal as the main product.
Non official translation
