Panama businesses wish to establish rice-production ties with Vietnam
Panamanian enterprises want to cooperate with Vietnamese counterparts in rice cultivation and distribution, as heard at a workshop held recently in Chiriqui province – Panama’s largest granary.
A rice field ready for harvest in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Panamanian enterprises wan♒t to cooperate with Vietnamese counterparts in rice cultivation and distribution, as heard at a rice trade promotion workshop held recently in Chiriqui province – Panama’s largest granary.
More than 70 local businesses attending the workshop said they expect the signing of a letter of intent between a relevant Vietnamese agency and Chiriqui’s rice producers association.
The pact would allow the implementation of a pilot field covering approximately 3,000 hectares, with rice strains, technical support and experts supplied by Vietnam.
The Chiriqui’s rice producers association will assist Vietnamese rice to gain easier access to Panama’s market.
According to former Minister of Agricultural Development Guillermo Salazar, 87 percent of rice farming area in Chiriqui is cultivated in only one crop a year, yielding a mere four tonnes per hectare.
Panama is capable of meeting 75 percent of domestic demand for rice. The remaining 25 percent or 100,000 tonnes of rice need to be imported, he said.
The ex-minister said Panama is willing to work with Vietnam and seeks assistance for experts, strains and fertilizers in a bid to boost local productivity.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Panama Vu Ngoc Minh highlighted that Vietnam could work with Panama in food development project as well as selling rice to Panama at more competitive prices.-VNA
Firms from Panama have shown interest in possible opportunities in doing business in Vietnam in various fields such as education, health, agriculture, tourism and industry.
Panama’s lush tropical forest, wildlife diversity, stunning beaches, skilful fine arts and colourful festivals are being featured through 80 photos displayed at an exhibition underway in Hanoi.
Pho (noodle soup), fried noodle, spring rolls, fried rice with beef, seafood and other traditional Vietnamese dishes are on the menu of freshly inaugurated “Sabor Viet” restaurant in Panama.
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.
According to NordCham Vietnam Chairman Thue Quist Thomasen, the Vietnamese Government’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is both a challenge and an opportunity for businesses to contribute to green and sustainable growth.
The analysis from an investment perspective shows that the economy’s growth has been heavily capital‑driven, yet efficiency remains low as reflected by Vietnam’s Incremental Capital-Output Ratio (ICOR) being significantly higher than global and regional averages. This underscores the imperative to enhance capital‑use efficiency.
A rice field ready for harvest in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)
