Investors move to foster agricultural growth

VietNamNet Bridge – Measures to harmonise the cooperation and assistance policies of donors and foreign investors in Vietnam’s agricultural and rural development were tabled for discussion at the annual meeting of the International Support Group (ISG) in Hanoi on Nov. 18.

The agricultural sector has received massive support from donor countries, international organisations and individuals.

Opening the event, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat said that Vietnam would like to consult donors and foreign investors on its policies regarding the development of human resources in rural areas, farmland management, and food security for remote regions and areas inhabited by ethnic minorities.

The minister praised past recommendations as well as the exchange of information during previous meetings. “Vietnam has achieved good results and obtained useful information from many international organisations at previous consultancy conferences,” he said.

While reiterating Vietnam’s main priority on agricultural and rural development, Minister Phat pointed out the challenges this sector has faced this year, including unfavourable weather conditions, outbreaks of cattle and poultry diseases and high production costs.

The minister assured the participants that, in spite of these difficulties, Vietnam’s agricultural sector hopes to post a growth rate of 3.6 percent for 2008, compared with 3.4 percent last year.

The Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam, Rolf Bergman, who co-chaired this year’s meeting, said that policies addressing cooperation with Vietnam would be adjusted to meet changes in its developmental requirements in the years to come.

With regard to agriculture, cooperation projects will focus on grassroots mechanisms for democracy practice, environmental protection, and along with reducing environmentally-friendly production.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the agricultural sector has received massive support from donor countries, international organisations and individuals. Between January and October, the agricultural sector benefitted from 30 official development assistance (ODA) programmes and projects worth a total of 313 million USD.

(Source: VNA)

Update from: http://english.vietnamnet.vn//tech/2008/11/814285/