Signing ceremony of the Action Programme of the Netherlands – Vietnam Business Platform

Today, Netherlands Ambassador Akkerman and VCCI Can Tho Director Nguyen Phuong Lam signed the Action Programme of the Netherlands – Vietnam Business Platform for the Mekong River Delta. The signing was witnessed by Ms. Van Asselt, representative of the joint 4 top sectors of the Netherlands and Mr. Schoustra, Netherlands Agricultural Counsellor to Vietnam and Thailand.

Signing Action Programme NL-VN Business Platform for the Mekong Delta
Beeld: ©EKN

This Action Programme is established under the framework of the Letter of Intent to establish the Netherlands – Vietnam Business Platform for the Mekong River Delta, which was signed at the Sustainable Business Event in January 2021 between the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands together with the joint Top Sectors Water, Logistics, Agro-Food, Horticulture and Starting Materials of The Netherlands (the Netherlands side) and Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Mekong Delta (VCCI Can Tho).

A concrete and practical Action Programme

The aim of the Action Programme is to enable the expansion of trade and investment between the Netherlands and Vietnam’s 13 provinces in the Mekong River Delta, including the delivery of a range of early harvest and longer-term activities to boost bilateral trade and investment under The Netherlands – Vietnam Business Platform. The Action Programme includes:

  • Exchange and disseminate market and business information;
  • Conduct a study comprising of market assessment and business development in the Mekong Delta to facilitate Dutch companies and/or relevant potential projects;
  • Collaboration to hold a Dutch Business Forum as a side event of VCCI Can Tho’s Economic Forum in December 2021 to promote the Dutch business development in the Mekong Delta: centering on sustainable agriculture, water management, agro-water technology, logistics, renewable energy, and other relevant topics;
  • The Netherlands side will support VCCI in the process of preparing the annual Mekong Delta Economic Report 2021 by nominating experts in the studied topics to join the evaluation committee and co-organizing thematic workshops;
  • Furthermore, The Dutch side will recommend relevant activities that enrich the membership experience of the Business Resilient Network established by VCCI Can Tho and catalyse a closer collaboration between Dutch Fund for Climate and Development and VCCI Can Tho.
Signing Action Programme NL-VN Business Platform for the Mekong Delta
Beeld: ©EKN

Private sector is in the lead

In her keynote speech, H.E. Ambassador Akkerman highlighted that real transformation has to be done by the private sector based on scientific evidence and facilitated by the government ‘A sustainable agricultural sector, a good water management system and coastal protection as well as an adequate logistic infrastructure are the ingredients to make the Mekong Delta resilient and economically viable for the future. The Netherlands private sector is ready to work together on sustainable agricultural value changes, agro logistics, inland waterways and agro-water technical solutions. I trust the Mekong Delta Business Platform will be a solid base to further boost this process,’  (Ambassador Akkerman).

VCCI Can Tho Director Nguyen Phuong Lam appreciated the concrete and effective supports of the Dutch government in numerous projects and activities for the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta. ‘The establishment of the Netherlands-Vietnam Business Platform in the Mekong Delta is an important milestone for the development of agriculture and business in the delta region,’ (Director Lam).

An action plan in the Netherlands

Despite the Covid-19 circumstance in the Netherlands, interest in investments and doing business in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam is growing. The Netherlands stakeholders are taking steps to actively engage in this market, starting with a reconstruction of a website to provide information on business and investment in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. In November 2021, a trade mission for interested Dutch companies will potentially take place. The joint 4 top sectors reflect their ambition in the Mekong Delta and closely involve the Netherlands government. ‘The Netherlands - Vietnam Business Platform is an unique collaboration, where it is the first time that that 4 top sectors of the Netherlands: Water, Logistics, Agro-Food, Horticulture and Starting Materials join forces to bring and connect Dutch expertise with Vietnamese partners. Activities have been planned and kick started  in the Netherlands. I hope that the Action Programme that we are signing today will offer us opportunities to jointly organise activities both in Vietnam and in the Netherlands,’ said Ms. van Asselt, representative of the joint 4 top sectors at the Signing Ceremony

Vietnam and the Netherlands have been trusted and long-lasting partners in a joint action towards the realisation of a sustainable and climate-resilient Mekong Delta, both in public and private sectors. The Action Programme signed today is another step further to consolidate and realise real actions, concrete projects and business deals.

For more information on doing business in Vietnam, contact: han-ea@minbuza.nl and han-lnv@minbuza.nl