(MPI) - Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung led a Vietnamese delegation from ministries, innovation centres, research institutes and universities to visit the Netherlands from February 21-23, working with Dutch agencies, organisations and enterprises to promote cooperation in innovation and creative agriculture.

At the meeting with Brainport Eindhoven. Photo: MPI

At a meeting with the Brainport Eindhoven, Europe's most innovative technology region, Minister Dung encouraged Brainport Eindhoven to share experience and foster cooperation with the Vietnam National Innovation Centre (NIC) to help develop a favorable innovative ecosystem in Vietnam.

He suggested Brainport and NIC sign a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation (MoU) to support NIC in applying hi-tech ecosystem and Triple Helix cooperation models, which are suitable to Vietnam’s conditions, while connecting Dutch hi-tech enterprises investing in Vietnam, especially in the Hoa Lac hi-tech park.

AED and NVHBP inked a MoU. Photo: MPI

At the World Horti Centre (WHC), the MPI minister stressed that Vietnam pays attention to build an innovative agricultural ecosystem in order to support small and medium sized enterprises improving value and competitiveness of Vietnamese agricultural products and food, thus developing the agriculture sector sustainably and environment-friendly.

He proposed the centre to support and coordinate with Vietnam in building a horticulture centre in the northern region, thereby seeking more opportunities to cooperate, share experience and facilitate technology transfer between Vietnam and Netherlands.

On this occasion, the MPI’s Enterprise Development Agency (AED) and the Netherlands-Vietnam Horti Business Platform (NVHBP) inked an MoU on empowering Vietnamese SMEs, strengthening cooperation and bolstering joint economic development between the two countries in the field of horticulture.

At the working session with Invest International. Photo: MPI

At the working session between Invest International and Minister Dung, Lara Muller, Director for Public Sector of Invest International said, Netherlands has provided non-refundable aid for Vietnam, both in the public and private sectors in many areas such as infrastructure, climate, water management, agriculture, garment and textiles.

The director said that the fund is considering aid for a number of promising projects in Vietnam in the fields of coastal protection in Phan Thiet, groundwater replenishment and storage in the Mekong Delta region, agribusiness public infrastructure, and offshore wind power development.

Minister Dung spoke highly of the fund’s activities in supporting sustainable development projects in Vietnam.

He affirmed that Vietnam has made great efforts to fulfil its commitments at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 26), expressing his hope that Invest International continue to support Vietnam’s projects in building an innovation ecosystem at NIC, helping the country in the transformation process of green, digital and knowledge-based economy and sustainable development.

The minister also asked the fund to speed up the progress and report to the Dutch Government for consideration and approval of Vietnam’s coastal protection projects applying new technologies./.

Bao Linh

Ministry of Planning and Investment