Kerala Strengthens Industrial & Commercial Relations with Vietnam

A six-member team from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is slated to visit Kerala and establish multiple linkages in the agriculture and industry sectors. In the domains of agriculture and fishery, Vietnam is quite similar to Kerala, yet they are much ahead on a global scale.

Transferring this knowledge and technology to Kerala is in the state's best interests. Vietnam, on the other hand, may benefit from our advancements in higher education and information technology. The group led by HE Pham Sanh Chau, Ambassador of Vietnam to India, conducted detailed discussions and shared opinions on future potential in these sectors during their visit to Kerala.

The discussions began on 9^th November in Thiruvananthapuram as part of the Kerala-Vietnam Cooperation Workshop. In the presence of ministers, specialists, and top officials from the relevant departments, extensive discussions were held on areas such as agriculture, fisheries, higher education, IT, and industry, where the two regions may collaborate.

In his valedictory address, Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan said – “this cooperation would open up immense possibilities in all these areas. Vietnam has developed excellent practices and productivity in the cultivation of paddy, pepper, coffee, rubber, and cashew crops."

He further added "The county also excels in the processing and the value addition of seafood. Exchange of information on how this achievement has been achieved will be of great benefit to Kerala for the future development of these sectors. At the same time, Kerala can provide excellent support to Vietnam in areas such as higher education, professional training, and information technology. Assistance can be provided in the field of digital education and online learning.”

The Chief Minister also welcomed Vietnamese tourists to visit Kerala, one of the world's top tourist attractions. He proposed the concept of forming twinning relationships with Vietnamese cities, which he thought would be beneficial. Expert visits and webinars can help to build this relationship. He went on to say that – “forming joint working groups in agriculture and fisheries will open the door for even more collaboration between the two regions”.

In terms of agriculture, the Vietnamese provinces of Kien Giang and Can Tho City are extremely similar to Kerala. In the production of paddy, pepper, coffee, rubber, and cashew, they have effectively utilized the finest methods and techniques. During the discussions, Shri P Prasad, State’s Agricultural Minister said – “cooperation with Vietnam will give an impetus to the State’s agricultural sector. Vietnam is also facing the problems faced by Kerala in agriculture. Appropriate research in this regard would be useful for problem-solving and the development of this sector.”

“As a consumer state and a good investment-friendly state, Vietnam can have possibly good trade relations with Kerala” - said Finance Minister, Shri P Rajeev and added that – “the retail sector in Kerala is in favor of Vietnamese establishments. Joint ventures are also possible in the plastics and rubber products sectors. The state has the best human resource capacity, infrastructure, logistics, speedy clearance system, and responsible investment policy to offer.”