Vietnam – Indonesia Enhancing cooperation in sustainable aquaculture and fisheries
On March 10, during General Secretary To Lam’s state visit to Indonesia, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien held a bilateral meeting with Indonesia’s Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono.
At the meeting, both sides reached agreements on key areas of cooperation, including lobster seed trade, seaweed farming, and tuna aquaculture.
Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien highlighted that this state visit and the bilateral discussions coincide with the 70th anniversary of Vietnam-Indonesia diplomatic relations. Indonesia was the first Southeast Asian country to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam in 1955.
On this occasion, he urged Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono to support efforts to strengthen cooperation and advance sustainable fisheries development, aligning with the strong relationship between the two nations. He also called on Indonesia’s maritime sector leaders to direct relevant agencies toward deeper, more substantial collaboration in marine science, technology, and seafood trade.
Regarding lobster seed, both parties agreed to work closely on disease control and export procedures for lobster seed to Vietnam. In terms of seaweed cooperation, Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Indonesia’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries will collaborate on scientific research, the trade of high-quality seaweed strains, and seaweed processing technology. For tuna, both nations agreed to establish a cooperative framework for offshore tuna farming, assigning relevant agencies from both ministries to coordinate discussions and implementation.
Additionally, the meeting resulted in agreements to boost collaboration in deep-sea fishing, allowing Vietnamese fishing vessels to operate in Indonesia. Both sides will continue sharing information on marine fisheries to promote stable and sustainable fishing activities, ensuring fishermen’s livelihoods.
The Vietnamese government has been actively enforcing strict measures to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This commitment aims to ensure the sustainable and responsible development of the fishing industry while protecting marine biodiversity and the ocean ecosystem. In response, Indonesia’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries pledged to support Vietnam in aquaculture and legal fishing activities, contributing to efforts to lift the European Commission’s (EC) yellow card warning.
Earlier, on August 5, 2024, in Bali, Indonesia, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien met with Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the fisheries sector. The two leaders agreed to expedite joint aquaculture initiatives. Minister Sakti Trenggono also encouraged Vietnamese investors to invest in Indonesia’s aquaculture industry, particularly in tuna, seaweed, and lobster seed farming.
Currently, Indonesia is Vietnam’s second-largest trading partner within ASEAN. In 2024, bilateral trade between the two countries reached USD 16.7 billion, reflecting a 21.6% increase from 2023. The two nations have set a target of USD 18 billion in trade by 2028.
In 2024, Vietnam imported seafood from 23 key markets, with Indonesia surpassing India and Norway to become Vietnam’s largest seafood supplier. Vietnam’s seafood imports from Indonesia amounted to USD 334 million, a remarkable 61.3% increase compared to the previous year.
VFM
