Enviro News Asia, Angola — Viet Nam and Angola have entered a new phase of bilateral agricultural cooperation under a South–South cooperation framework, focusing on investment, technology transfer, and human resource development to support sustainable agricultural growth in Angola.
The strengthened partnership was formalized through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Viet Nam–South Cooperation Working Group in Agriculture and Angola’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Luanda on December 12. The ceremony was witnessed by Angola’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Isaac Francisco Maria dos Anjos and Vietnamese Ambassador to Angola Duong Chinh Chuc, underscoring strong political commitment from both governments.
The MoU operationalizes the agricultural cooperation Action Plan agreed upon during President Luong Cuong’s state visit to Angola in August. Under the agreement, Angola expressed readiness to receive Vietnamese investment in agriculture and forestry, with cooperation projects scheduled to be implemented over a three-year period beginning in 2026.
The agreement was signed by Pham Ngoc Mau, Deputy Director of Viet Nam’s Department of International Cooperation and Head of the South–South Cooperation Working Group in Agriculture, and Anderson Jerónimo, Director of Angola’s Research, Planning and Statistics Department.
Priority sectors: rice, cassava, and forestry
During meetings held from December 9–14, both sides finalized priority cooperation areas, including rice, cassava, soybean production, and forestry development. These sectors were identified as well aligned with Angola’s agroecological conditions while drawing on Viet Nam’s technical expertise and production experience.
Angola identified rice development in Lunda Norte Province as a top priority. Beyond production, both countries agreed to promote technology transfer to smallholder farmers and strengthen institutional capacity within Angola’s agricultural administration.
Human resource development forms a central pillar of the cooperation. Viet Nam and Angola agreed to expand technical training programs, including the placement of Angolan agricultural staff in Viet Nam and the deployment of Vietnamese experts to Angola for on-site training, advisory support, and field assessments.
As part of the initial implementation phase, Angola will send ten technical officers to Viet Nam from December 21–27 to participate in a specialized training program. Viet Nam will also dispatch an expert team to Angola to conduct field surveys and prepare technical assessments for future project execution.
Strengthening South–South cooperation in Africa
Minister Isaac Francisco Maria dos Anjos reaffirmed Angola’s commitment to facilitating cooperation projects with Viet Nam, describing the partnership as a catalyst for deeper bilateral relations. Angola is expected to play a strategic role in Viet Nam’s broader South–South cooperation agenda across Africa.
The signing of the MoU marks a significant step toward practical and results-oriented cooperation between Viet Nam and Angola, while reinforcing Viet Nam’s growing role in international agricultural collaboration and global food security efforts. (*)
