Great interest and enthusiasm for VN-Dutch cooperation in high-tech horticulture

Vietnamese companies, institutes and governmental organisations were in large numbers present at the seminars throughout Vietnam organised by the Netherlands Vietnam Horti Business Platform (NVHBP). Horticulture is for both countries an important sector. Although the Netherlands is a small, densely populated country, it is the 2^nd largest exporter of agricultural products while having the lowest environmental impact per kg of product of all countries in the world. At the same time, the Vietnamese horticulture market shows strong growth as well as opportunities to bring the sector to a next level.

On Monday November 11^th, a seminar for potential members in Thai Binh province was organised in cooperation with People’s Committee of Thai Binh. Besides, NVHBP had a booth at the Northern Delta International Agriculture Fair 2019 in Thai Binh from 5 November to 11 November. Thai Binh Agriculture College signed the silver membership as this College sees the benefit of being member of the platform and aims to cooperate in green education. Later that day, a seminar was organised in Hai Phong in cooperation with Haiphong Technology & Equipment Transfer and Exchange (HATEX).

On Tuesday November 12^th, potential members were invited by AgriTrade to join the seminar in Hanoi. Later that day, the current members were updated during a lunch at the Fruit and Vegetable Research institute (FAVRI); companies and institutes active in the horticultural sector in Vinh Phuc province attended the seminar organised in cooperation with People’s committee of Vinh Phuc.

On Wednesday November 13^th, NVHBP was present at Vietnam Food Expo 2019 in Ho Chi Minh City which was co-organised by one of its supporting partners Vietrade. Fokke Kracht, board member of NVHBP, was one of the speakers during the Panel Discussion of the Food Forum with the topic “To meet the Netherlands and EU standards and opportunities in these markets for Vietnam’s food and agricultural products exporters”. In the afternoon the NVHBP team meet several interested companies during the matchmaking session. Moreover, part of the team visited the factory of Lavifood in Tay Ninh province (Tanifood).

On Thursday November 14^th, a large group of interested companies and organisations gathered at the Saigon Innovation hub for the seminar organised in cooperation with Agricultural High-Tech Park (AHTP) in Ho Chi Minh City. The seminar were continued with a visit to AHTP.