On May 15, 2025, the Vietnam Trade Office in Germany, in collaboration with the Embassy of Vietnam in Germany, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam (MARD), and the German Agriculture Alliance (GAA), organized a Vietnam–Germany Agricultural Trade Connection Forum.
The event was held during the official visit to Germany by the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, led by Deputy Minister Trần Thanh Nam.
The forum gathered participation from numerous Vietnamese–German business associations, vocational training institutions, distribution channels, German supermarket chains, and nearly 50 Vietnamese enterprises engaged in agricultural production, processing, trade, and logistics for import–export operations.
Exchange of Agricultural Trade Insights
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During the discussion, Vietnamese and German associations and enterprises exchanged information about market demand, consumer preferences, and import–export regulations. They also shared experiences in exporting fruits, vegetables, seafood, and meat products to Germany’s retail chains.
Delegates proposed that government agencies from both countries facilitate cooperation, improve market access, and strengthen trade connections for key agricultural products.
Deputy Minister Trần Thanh Nam’s Remarks
Deputy Minister Trần Thanh Nam highlighted the strong economic achievements of both countries and the great potential for bilateral cooperation—especially in areas such as food safety, technical training linked with practical application, mechanization, and digital transformation in agriculture.
He presented three key proposals to enhance agricultural collaboration between Vietnam and Germany:
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Annual Trade Promotion Programs:
German agricultural associations are encouraged to organize annual trade missions to connect with Vietnamese enterprises, promote market development, and introduce German agricultural products in Vietnam.
In turn, Vietnamese associations and businesses should participate in trade fairs, exhibitions, and market studiesin Germany to showcase Vietnamese agricultural, forestry, and fishery products. -
Supply Chain Partnerships:
Industry associations from both sides should establish linkage channels—forming enterprise clusters along the supply chain (including cold storage, warehousing, logistics, and retail networks).
These collaborations will help reduce logistics costs, ensure product quality, and strengthen value chain compliance. -
Joint Ventures and Co-production:
Vietnamese enterprises should form joint ventures or strategic partnerships with German companies in production and processing to meet German consumer standards and expand exports through retail channels and the Vietnamese diaspora community in Germany.
Ambassador Vũ Quang Minh: Strengthening Strategic Partnership
Ambassador Vũ Quang Minh emphasized the significance of this event amid global challenges such as U.S. tariff policies, the Ukraine conflict, and geopolitical tensions.
He noted that Vietnam and Germany, as trusted strategic partners, must deepen their mutually beneficial cooperation, particularly in agriculture, fisheries, and environmental sustainability.
Ambassador Minh also highlighted that both Vietnam and the European Union (EU) are engaging in constructive negotiations with the U.S. while remaining prepared for all scenarios.
Given their complementary trade structures, Vietnam and Germany are well-positioned to expand two-way trade, coordinate policies, and leverage the advantages of the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA)—especially as both countries work toward upgrading their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
German Agriculture Alliance (GAA) Welcomes Cooperation
Dr. Per Brodersen, Director of the German Agriculture Alliance (GAA), warmly welcomed Deputy Minister Trần Thanh Nam’s delegation.
He reaffirmed that agriculture and food play a vital role in both the German economy and the global context, stressing that food security remains a shared priority for all nations.
According to Dr. Brodersen, Vietnam–Germany agricultural cooperation is entering a new stage of development, with vast potential in terms of production capacity, efficiency, exports, and value-added growth.
He also expressed optimism that ongoing dialogues between Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Germany’s Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture would open up new opportunities for collaboration and investment.
Expanding Market Access
Beyond the forum, the Vietnam Trade Office in Germany also organized market visits for Vietnamese agricultural producers to distribution networks and Asian goods retailers in Erfurt and Frankfurt.
These activities helped enterprises understand German consumer preferences and explore partnership opportunitieswith importers and supermarket chains.