“Vietnam’s agricultural production has undergone positive changes. However, to stay firm amid fluctuations, and to expand the domestic and export markets, there is still much to be done,” said Dr. Tran Huu Hiep, an economic expert, in an interview with The Saigon Times. The reverse side of the medal The Saigon Times: The agriculture sector in 2023 achieved remarkable records, such as an all-time high export value totaling US$53.01 billion and a trade surplus of US$12.07 billion (accounting for 43% of the country’s trade surplus). Are you surprised at these outstanding results? How should we explain this result, has Vietnam’s agriculture seized good opportunities, or have we built a solid foundation to capture opportunities? – Dr. Tran Huu Hiep: Agricultural exports are a bright spot in Vietnam’s export picture in 2023. However, this result does not surprise me. Firstly, the agriculture sector has made notable strides in recent times, and the achievements in 2023 marked a new step, transitioning from a predominantly production-oriented agriculture to an agronomic one. On the production side, not only agricultural businesses and cooperatives but also farmers, especially those in the Mekong Delta, have responded to market signals to maintain or expand production. From the state […]