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Happy Lunar New Year

WORKSHOP SHARING EXPERIENCE ON AGRICULTURAL STARTUP AND INNOVATION IN 2024

On January 11, 2024, at the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture (VNUA) was held the Workshop Sharing Experience of experts from the Netherlands-Vietnam Horti Business Platform (NVHBP) – www.nvhortiplatform.com  about starting a business and maintaining operations in the field of high-tech agriculture, high-value agriculture in the flower seed and seedling industry of the Netherlands.

There were over 100 guests attending, including domestic and international experts, students and representatives of the Departments of International Cooperation, Science and Technology, Training Management, Agronomy and Biotechnology departments. Studies, Accounting and Business Administration, Economics…

After the opening words of Mr. Nguyen Viet Long, Head of VNUA’s International Cooperation Department, Mr. Paul Onings – Export Director of Onings Holland Flowerbulbs Company, the leading flower bulb supplier in the Netherlands (https://onings.com) had a presentation on “Onings Company’s experience in entrepreneurship and innovation in the field of Dutch flower bulbs” and Ms. Mai Hong – CEO of Thien Dieu Trading and Proccessing Joint Stock Company, an Import-export and investment company in the field of flowers and ornamental plants (https://thiendieu.vn) had shared about “Experience in starting a business, maintaining and developing an import-export and investment enterprise in the flower industry in Vietnam”. She also introduced about NVHBP’s activities and cooperation with VNUA, as well as the career opportunities for students.

During the workshop, VNUA students expressed their thoughts, career aspirations and future development directions.

This is one of the regular activities between VNUA and NVHBP within the framework of the Cooperation agreement signed between the two sides on training activities, scientific research and technology transfer, period 2020-2025.

 

NVHBP PARTICIPATES IN THE FIRST TIME HOA KIEN SA DEC FESTIVAL

The first Sa Dec Flower and Ornamental Festival 2023 takes place from December 30, 2023 to January 5, 2024 with 9 main programs and 10 supporting programs, spanning 7 days, creating a festive atmosphere. Festivals abound in the “flower capital” of Sa Dec, leaving many impressions on people and tourists from all over the region about a brilliant, colorful and emotional festival season. 

During the 7 days of the Festival, it attracted more than 245,000 visitors, including nearly 2,000 international visitors; Revenue from tourism is estimated at about 98 billion VND, with many impressive and attractive cultural and tourist activities such as: space for arranging flowers and artistic ornaments; display and exhibition of domestic and international flower and ornamental products; flower and ornamental market; photo exhibition space “Sa Dec past and present”; displaying and exhibiting ornamental creatures; flower decoration; The program recreates the Ceremony of gratitude to ancestors and honors Sa Dec floriculture and ornamental craft… 

The Netherlands-Vietnam Horti Business Platform (NVHBP) participated in a large booth, displaying unique Dutch flower products such as double fragrant Lily, Gladiolus, Spathiphyllum and advanced horti supplies and solutions. 

On the morning of December 31, 2023, at Dong Thap Ornamental Flower Trading Center, Ms. Mai Hong, Vietnam Coordinator of NVHBP gave a presentation at the Workshop “Improving the value chain of ornamental flower industry in Dong Thap province ” with the content: “Cooperative solution for ornamental flower development between the NVHBP and Dong Thap province”, organized by Dong Thap Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. 

On the same day in the afternoon, NVHBP participated in a presentation at the “Conference on connecting trade of flower and ornamental products” – organized by Sa Dec Department of Industry and Trade. 

This is one of the activities to implement the Memorandum of Cooperation signed between NVHBP and Dong Thap Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in August 2023. 

EVENT INTRODUCTION: HANOI, FLOWER LAND

To celebrate Christmas 2023 and welcome New Year 2024, Thien Dieu Company (www.thiendieu.vn), a member of the Netherlands Vietnam Horti Business Platform (www.nvhortiplatform.com), a professional importer of flower seeds and seedlings from the Netherlands to Vietnam, the co-organizer of 2018 Tulip Festival at Ecopark, has organized an event named HANOI, FLOWER LAND 2023, helping to promote Vietnamese flower growers and contribute to the people of Hanoi and the surrounding areas a beautiful and meaningful entertainment spot. 

The program is having the cooperation of Thong Nhat Park Co., Ltd., Sa Dec Flower Club, Dalat Flower Association; and artisans, gardeners, and businesses operating in the field of ornamental flowers and plants. 

At Thong Nhat Island, the space of Vietnamese flower regions was recreated, from Tan Quy Dong flower village, Sa Dec to Hydrangea garden, Da Lat and Dutch Lily flower forest.  

On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the day Hanoi people started construction of Thong Nhat Park (1958-2023), the Organizing Committee respectfully introduces some emotional traditional images of the Park. 

Moving to Coconut Island, you will enter to another sweet and romantic space, with the Fairy Garden. Connecting the two islands is a service area, with a feeling of European weekend market. During the Festival, open street art and entertainment programs will take place, welcoming public participation.  

We hope to bring the flower-lovers interesting and impressive relaxing times at the Capital’s largest park, during this meaningful transition between two years.  

VISIT OF DONG THAP HIGH LEVEL LEADERS TO THE NETHERLANDS

In the first week of December 2023, a delegation of senior leaders of Dong Thap province, led by Mr. Le Quoc Phong, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, visited and worked in the Netherlands, with the organizational support of the Netherlands-Vietnam Horti Business Platform (NVHBP).

The delegation met and worked with the Westland municipality to exchange and learn about experiences in building state strategies and policies on agricultural development in the flower sector. Seek opportunities for cooperation in agricultural economic planning and development.

The delegation visited and worked with the World Horti Center, met, exchanged and shared experiences with KP Holland Company (https://www.kpholland.nl/en/), to investivgate the testing process for new flower varieties.

On the same day, the group visited Onings Holland Flowerbulbs Company, a nearly 70-year-old family flower bulb export company. (https://onings.com/) and Dummen Orange Company – The world’s leading multinational company with more than 7,500 employees, specializing in breeding and propagating ornamental flower varieties.

This is an activity within the framework of the Memorandum of Cooperation signed between NVHBP and Dong Thap province since August 2023.

AHTP’S BUSINESS TRIP TO THE NETHERLANDS

 During the last week of November 2023, the working group of the Management Board of Agricultural Hi-Tech  Park of Ho Chi Minh City has  visited and worked in the Netherlands, with the organizational support of the Netherlands Vietnam Horti Business Platform (NVHBP).

The delegation visited Anthura Company – breeder of Phalaenopsis orchids and Anthurium flowers; members of NVHBP such as KP Holland – specializing in Kalanchoe, Spathiphyllum, Siam Curcuma; Ridder Company, Val der Valk, Rijk Zwaan (specializing in vegetable varieties), Royal FloraHolland flower auction.

The delegation has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with NVHBP at World Horti Center, according to which the parties will:

  • Exchange, introduce, support to connect and transfer of new horticultural technologies from the Netherlands to growers and businesses in Vietnam to promote Vietnamese horticuture.
  • Support and cooperate in organizing training programs in the field of high-tech agriculture for individuals and organizations in Vietnam.
  • Connecting Dutch institutes and research units to build research cooperation projects and programs with AHTP in the field of agriculture towards sustainable development and adaptation to climate change.
  • Support businesses from both sides to investigate the market and promote the trade in the Netherlands, Europe and Vietnam.

Floricultural mission to the Netherlands leads to cooperation on the development of a sustainable floriculture sector in Vietnam

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.

Netherlands-Vietnam Floriculture Conference

We look back on a valuable conference, as start of the floriculture mission from Vietnam to the Netherlands, consisting of government representatives, education institutes and growers from three different Vietnamese provinces.

The conference focused on flower and ornamental plan cultivation and the collaboration between the Netherlands and Vietnam. This collaboration has a long and significant history with a lot of potential for the future. 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.

During the conference, we marked an important milestone in our diplomatic relationship. In honor of 50 years of diplomatic relations, the “Sutudo” Lily Bulb from Onings Holland Flowerbulbs (Paul Onings) was bapted by Ingrid Korving, Agricultural Counsellor The Kingdom of the Netherlands in Vietnam and Vo Thi Ngoc Diep, Trade Counsellor Viet Nam Embassy in the Hague.

Additionally, the collaboration and its potential were emphasized during the speeches. Presentations by Lam Dong Province, Dong Thap Province, and Son La Province, highlighted investment and trade opportunities in these Vietnamese provinces. In the meantime, there was time to network for the Dutch companies and Vietnamese delegation. The program concluded with an interactive tour at the World Horti Center.

A special thanks for the valuable contributions and speeches from: Victor Dobbe and Ivo Meijer of Gemeente Westland, Ingrid Korving of The Kingdom of the Netherlands in Vietnam, Vo Thi Ngoc Diep of Viet Nam Embassy in the Hague, Puck van Holsteijn of World Horti Center, Marga Vintges of Greenport West-Holland, Christina van der Laar and Max Biermans of Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) | Partner in Sustainable Development, Kuno Jacobs of HortEx Vietnam, Mirjam Boekestijn and Henk van Eijk. And of course the companies!