Hanoi (VNA) – The agriculture sector emerged as a firm pillar of the economy last year, settinga series of new records despite globa𒁏l market downturn.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoancommended the entire sector for its tremendous efforts during a period ofunprecedented economic challenges. He declared 2023 the year of extraordinary achievements in agricultural exports, highlighted by a historicpeak in rice exports at nearly 8.3 million tonnes, accompanied by record-highgrain prices globally. Fruitsand vegetables also marked a significant breakthrough, generating an all-high revenueof nearly 5.7 billion USD. Notably, various fruit-bearing plants commanded highselling prices, translating into substantial gains for farmers. Apivotal accomplishment in 2023 was the sector's record-breaking trade surplus,soaring to 12.7 billion USD, reflecting a noteworthy increase of 43.7%. Six keycommodity groups, namely rice, fruits and vegetables, coffee, cashew nuts,shrimp, and wood and wooden furniture, recorded export turnovers exceeding 3billion USD. Hoan reported the establishment of 1,400 new enterprises in thesector in the past year, bringing the total to over 16,100, up 7.3%annually.
Beyond the efforts of small- and medium-sized enterprises, majorcorporations continued to bolster their investments in agriculture,particularly in high-tech one. The overall growth in the sector reachedits highest level in the last five years, sustaining growth across all domainswhile ensuring food security and major balances of the economy, and contributingto macroeconomic stability, he said.
Yetanother "first time" accomplishment was the quality control ofnearly 90% of planted forest areas, with the sale of 10.3 million forest carboncredits at a rate of 5 USD per tonne. This unprecedented movegenerated a substantial revenue of 51.5 million USD for the forestry industry.
Looking ahead, the sector has set ambitious goals, aiming for agr♏owth rate of 3-3.5% aඣnd export revenue of around 54-55 billion USD,surpassing that in the previous year by 1-2 billion USD./.
The year 2024 is forecast to remain a challenging year for wood industry, given several issues affecting the sustainability of production and export, according to experts.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged the agriculture and rural development sector to focus on innovation, speed up digital and green transformation and promoting the development of circular economy, knowledge economy, and sharing economy, towards realising the goal of ecological agriculture, modern rural areas and civilised farmers.
In the face of a host of difficulties and challenges, especially regarding export markets for forestry and fishery products, Vietnam’s agriculture sector is nonetheless estimated to have posted GDP growth of 3.83% - the highest figure in recent years.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Outcomes of ABAC III will shape ABAC’s final policy recommendations to be submitted to the ABAC-APEC leaders’ dialogue, scheduled to take place in the Republic of Korea this November.
This is the second year the magazine has released the ranking, which is based on total revenue and key financial indicators of enterprises from seven countries in the region: Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
At the summit, publishing, tech, and media sectors will discuss emerging trends, business models, and sustainable solutions for digital publishing development in Vietnam.
This year’s “Vietnam Goods Week” marks a significant milestone as it is being held simultaneously for the first time in four locations across Asia: Japan, Hong Kong (China), Cambodia, and Malaysia, from June 19 - 22.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
