On November 3, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam met with Mr. Marcus Malsch, State Secretary at the Thuringian Ministry for Economy, Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Republic of Germany

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam expressed his sincere appreciation to the German Government in general and the State of Thuringia in particular for their valuable support in agricultural education and workforce development. He reaffirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to and stands ready to expand cooperation with Germany in agriculture, environment, vocational education, and technology transfer.

Emphasizing Vietnam’s goal of developing a professional, knowledgeable, and skilled farming workforce, the Deputy Minister noted that the country is strengthening its agricultural extension system at all levels and implementing a national program for professional farmer training. He proposed that both sides exchange agricultural extension officers and instructors to share experience and enhance the capacity for technology transfer to farmers.

Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam shared Vietnam’s vision for an ecological and sustainable agriculture focusing on quality, value, and environmental protection rather than output

Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam also called on the German side to support the transfer of advanced vocational training programs in agricultural mechanization, agricultural engineering, biotechnology, and digital technology, in line with Vietnam’s agenda for vocational training reform. He further suggested considering mutual recognition of vocational qualifications between the two countries to create more employment opportunities for Vietnamese trainees in Germany.

To deepen collaboration, the Deputy Minister proposed organizing a Vietnam–Germany Forum on Agricultural Training and Career Transition in 2026 to provide a platform for training institutions, enterprises, and experts from both countries to connect and exchange.

State Secretary Marcus Malsch affirmed that Thuringia would prioritize supporting Vietnam in training a skilled agricultural workforce and expanding vocational exchange programs

In response, the State Secretary of Thuringia welcomed Vietnam’s proposals, noting that Germany currently offers 14 specialized occupations in green agriculture with a strong network of experienced vocational trainers. He expressed readiness to co-organize a series of workshops and professional cooperation forums, and to connect German vocational training institutions with suitable partners in Vietnam.

Regarding qualification recognition, the State Secretary said Germany would coordinate with relevant authorities and send experts to Vietnam to assess training programs, thereby establishing a solid foundation for long-term cooperation. He also emphasized the great potential for collaboration in post-harvest technology, biofertilizers, and green agricultural development.

Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam shared Vietnam’s vision for ecological and sustainable agriculture by 2030, with a vision toward 2045, focusing on quality, added value, and environmental protection rather than output volume. Both sides agreed that developing high-quality agricultural human resources is a key factor to improving the productivity, quality, and competitiveness of Vietnam’s agricultural products in the coming years.

Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam presented a souvenir to Mr. Marcus Malsch

Mr. Marcus Malsch also expressed his desire to expand cooperation in strawberry and cactus cultivation, egg, meat, and dairy production, as well as to promote exchanges of experts and agricultural extension officers to strengthen the sharing of practical experience.

During the meeting, a representative from a German biotechnology company proposed cooperation in rice preservation and processing to enhance the value of Vietnam’s rice and increase farmers’ incomes. Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam welcomed the initiative, emphasizing that it aligns with Vietnam’s sustainable development project on “One million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice associated” with Green Growth, currently implemented by the Government. He assigned the Department of International Cooperation to coordinate with the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) to develop a concrete action plan.

Concluding the meeting, both sides agreed to continue technical-level discussions to concretize areas of cooperation, moving toward a substantive, effective, and sustainable partnership between Vietnam and the Federal Republic of Germany in agriculture, vocational training, and environmental protection.

Khanh Linh - Ngoc Huyen