From November 6 to 9, a Vietnamese delegation consisting of government representatives, education institutes and growers from the three provinces Lam Dong, Dong Thap and Son La visited the Dutch horticulture sector as part of the floricultural mission to the Netherlands. The organizers of this trade mission, including the Netherlands Embassy in Vietnam, the Dutch Enterprise Agency, the Netherlands Vietnam Horti Business Platform, and Dutch Greenhouse Delta, aimed to share knowledge, explore potential partnerships, and strengthen collaboration in the field of sustainable floriculture to create significant value for both countries.

Vietnam has been attracting significant attention for several years due to its outstanding potential in horticulture and floriculture. With diverse climatic conditions, a young and ambitious population, a large domestic market, a growing middle-income consumer group, and a favourable environment for foreign investment, horticulture and floriculture are among the most promising sectors in the Vietnamese economy. This Floricultural mission represents a significant step forward in harnessing this potential.

Participants in the floricultural mission include growers and growers associations, educational institutions, and government representatives, from the provinces of Lam Dong, Dong Thap, and Son La. In Vietnam the growing area for the cultivation of cut flowers, ornamental plants, and ornamental flowers is 45,000 hectare with Lam Dong as key production area. The program focused on sharing knowledge, strengthening collaborations, and exploring potential partnerships. Additionally, it marked an important milestone in our diplomatic relationship, as this year commemorates 50 years of diplomatic ties.

50 years of bilateral relations

The collaboration between the Netherlands and Vietnam has a long history. This year marks 50 years of bilateral relations between the two countries, and there have been more than 400 years of people-to-people contact. Last year, on December 12, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited the World Horti Center as part of his official visit to the Netherlands. During this visit, he expressed Vietnam’s commitment to cooperating with Dutch partners to address agricultural challenges. Vietnam aims to provide the world with products produced through a smart, circular, organic, responsible, and emission-balanced agricultural approach.

In honour of the 50 years of diplomatic relations, the Lily Bulb ‘Sutudo’ from Onings Holland Flowerbulbs was bapted during the Netherlands-Vietnam Floricultural Conference, which was part of the trade mission program.

Program

The program included components that focused on knowledge sharing and networking between the Dutch business community and the Vietnamese delegation. There were meetings with Dutch government officials and sector organizations. The Netherlands-Vietnam Floriculture Conference was part of the program, as well as the Trade Fair at the Royal Flora Holland flower auction in Aalsmeer and the International Floriculture Trade Fair in Vijfhuizen.

Field visits to companies in the horticulture (floriculture) sector were also part of the program. The delegation visited KP Holland, Onings Holland Flowerbulbs, Arcadia Chrysanten, a grower specializing in cut greens where they also received a presentation from Ridder on water management and climate control, Koppert, and Anthura, the breeder of Anthuriums and Orchids. These field visits focused on farming the future and integrated approaches, sharing expertise with knowledge institutes, and holding roundtable discussions with stakeholders throughout the entire value chain.

Invitation Netherlands-Vietnam Floriculture Conference

On August 30, 2023, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dong Thap Province, and the Netherlands-Vietnam Horticulture Business Platform (NVHBP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation to improve the production and trade of flowers and ornamentals for Dong Thap province; in the field of researching, transfering and commercialising new flower and ornamental products suitable for the climate environment; as well as marketing for the flower and ornamental industry in Dong Thap province, within 3 years (2023-2025).

Based on that, NVHBP will:

• Introduce and transfer new flower varieties, with loyalty;
• Consulting on upgrading technical infrastructure and farming technology
• Consulting on the market and trade of ornamental flower products from Dong Thap.

Dong Thap is responsible for:

• Involving and connecting stakeholders from Dong Thap for the different activities.
• Assigning appropriate personnel to receive information and deploy the work.
• Preparing the necessary infrastructure, coordinate with Party A in implementation.

On Friday, April 7, 2023, at the Office of Lai Chau Agricultural Products Association, the first meeting of 2023 between the two Associations took place.

Attending the meeting were representatives of the Quality Management Sub-Department, under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Lai Chau, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tuan, Chairman of Lai Chau Agricultural Products Association, Ms. Mai Thi Hong, Vietnam Coordinator of the Netherlands – Vietnam Horticulture Business Platform (NVHBP) and representatives of the two Associations’ members.

The two sides re-evaluated the cooperation in the past year, details are:

• In December 2021, the parties signed the Memorandum of Understanding.
• In 2022, the parties supported to introduce agricultural products of Lai Chau Agricultural Products Association members into domestic distribution channels, consulted on organic agricultural production, guided the use of digital application for tracking the production on fields.
• The parties had exchanged on varieties, growing techniques of vegetables and flowers, supporting the trade promotion on the Internet.
• NVHBP introduced and sent flower and vegetable seeds to members of Lai Chau Agricultural Products Association.
• Consulting on product development and market trend for members of Lai Chau Agricultural Products Association on rice, tea…

Proposals and recommendations for the activities in 2023:

• The parties would continue sharing information on domestic and international markets.
• NVHBP supports to set up the Website, Fanpage for Lai Chau Agricultural Products Association, promote practical and effective digitization in sales and marketing.
• Introduce and connect Lai Chau Agricultural Products Association with cooperatives and associations in other provinces to share experiences and exchange goods between regions.
• Promote the establishment of Vegetable and Flower sub-associations to conduct more specific works on this field in 2023.
• The parties maintain regular contact, seek to implement suitable projects and business contracts.

 

Saturday 4^th March 2023, NVHBP and its members Ridder, Onings Holland Flowerbulbs, Thien Dieu, Danny Green and Koidra visited Dong Thap province. The platform firstly met the People Committee of Dong Thap province at the HortEx. This meeting was followed up by a visit to the province in which they visited the commercial trade center for flowers and ornamental plants and the High-Tech Agricultural Application Center in Sa Dec.

The People Committee of Dong Thap Province and NVHBP agreed on signing a MoU in order to collaborate more closely on three main points, namely:

1. The introduction of new flower varieties suitable to cultivate in Dong Thap province;
2. Exchange of horticultural knowledge, experience and technical solutions especially on technologies for adapting to the climate change, knowledge and experience exchange on post-harvest management and promotion and sales;
3. Advise on the promotion and sales of flowers and ornamental plants in the commercial trade center.

As a first start, the parties will closely work out a pilot project for the cultivation of Amaryllis in the area.