Vietnamese, Canadian PMs agree on measures to boost ties
	Encouraging Teamwork Between Vietnamese, Canadian Public Sectors

At the dialogue, the Vietnam Trade Office in Canada shared the importance of agriculture to Vietnam's economy, and Vietnam's efforts to participate in the global agricultural supply chain to ensure food security.

Trade Counselor Tran Thu Quynh (second from the left) and representatives of Alberta's departments at the dialogue (Photo: VNA).

According to Trade Counselor Tran Thu Quynh, the Trade Office introduced the structure of domestic agricultural products and the potential for cooperation between Vietnamese enterprises and Alberta ones in the production and processing of agricultural products sectors.

Several enterprises from Alberta and British Columbia participating in production activities in Vietnam or having outsourcing partners for their brands in Vietnam were invited to the dialogue to share experiences of how the businesses in the food processing sector of both countries are exploiting the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to produce and export effectively.

At the event, the Vietnam Trade Office in Canada, the Canada-ASEAN Business Council, and representatives of the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service in the region answered questions about support mechanisms for businesses wishing to expand their operations abroad. Alberta is interested in market expansion opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region and considers Vietnam a gateway to this area.

Currently, Alberta has over 41,500 agricultural farms, 959 agricultural production facilities, and 511 food processing facilities. The value of the food processing industry accounts for up to 25% of the total industrial production value of the province.

The agricultural sector plays an important role in Alberta's economy, contributing 13% to the province's economic growth from 2016 to 2022. About 20% of Canada's agricultural exports originate from Alberta. To ensure the position of the agricultural sector in the economic structure, Alberta aims to attract investors in the plant-based food sector and processing fields using agricultural and livestock products of the province.

Within the framework of the Stampede Festival, the Vietnam Trade Office in Canada worked with the Alberta Investment Attraction Agency to learn about the model of attracting foreign investment into Alberta, especially in agriculture and energy.

Alberta province currently has 27,000 oil extraction facilities and 18,000 gas extraction facilities, with oil and gas reserves reaching 100 billion tons. This locality is interested in attracting investors in the recovery, processing, storage, and refining of carbon. Additionally, Alberta aims to become a leading province in the hydrogen economy and a major clean hydrogen producer in the world.

EU-funded Project for Eco-Resilient Agriculture in Vietnam's Mekong Delta The STAR-FARM project is a comprehensive program that addresses the urgent need for sustainable agricultural practices in the face of climate change and environmental challenges.

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