Enviro News Asia, Gyeongju – Singapore and Viet Nam formalized a new partnership to enhance food security through the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on Rice Trade on 30 October 2025. The agreement was concluded on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders Week in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea.
The MOC was signed by Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu, and Viet Nam’s Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien. The accord establishes a framework for stable, sustainable, and mutually beneficial rice trade, while strengthening bilateral efforts to maintain regional food security and prevent trade disruptions.
Under the new cooperation framework, Viet Nam will facilitate the export of an agreed quantity of rice to Singapore under pre-determined terms when requested by the Singapore government. This initiative is designed to enhance supply chain resilience and ensure a consistent food supply amid growing global uncertainties.
Minister Grace Fu highlighted the agreement’s significance as a milestone for Singapore’s food security strategy. “This is Singapore’s first Memorandum of Cooperation on Rice Trade signed with a trading partner, and we are happy to do so with Viet Nam, one of Singapore’s largest rice suppliers. As a nation that imports over 90% of its food, Singapore must strengthen regional and global partnerships to secure stable supplies of essential commodities,” she said.
Minister Nguyen Hong Dien described the MOC as a concrete step in implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations. “Singapore is one of Viet Nam’s leading economic partners and a key market for our country. This agreement not only strengthens economic connectivity but also demonstrates our joint commitment to ensuring food security and sustainable agricultural cooperation within ASEAN,” he said.
The agreement is expected to further boost agricultural trade between the two countries, promoting high-quality Vietnamese rice exports to Singapore and enhancing overall supply chain resilience across the region. (*)
