The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) has renewed its commitment to strengthening agricultural trade with Vietnam through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed last week with the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE).
USGC Chairwoman Verity Ulibarri signed the agreement during a board of directors' meeting at the council's Washington, D.C. headquarters, with USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand in attendance. The signing ceremony provided an opportunity for council leaders to meet with the Vietnamese delegation and discuss expanding U.S. agricultural exports to Vietnam.
The MOU focuses on enhancing bilateral trade in animal feed and biofuels while expanding technical support to Vietnam's agricultural industry. Key components of the agreement include:
- Organizing workshops and publishing educational materials
- Engaging in regional and international conferences
- Facilitating trade teams, technical missions, and industry networking events
- Assisting in building Vietnam's industrial capacities in feed, food, and fuel sectors
- Working to reduce trade barriers for U.S. products
Ulibarri emphasized Vietnam's importance as a priority market for U.S. agricultural exports, stating that the MOU "re-affirms the Council's commitment to enabling stronger trade relations with Vietnam and improving the lives of their consumers and end-users."
LeGrand praised the efforts of the USGC's Southeast Asia and Oceania regional office in activating the Vietnamese market for U.S. feed and biofuel exports. He expressed enthusiasm for future programs aimed at reaching customers in Vietnam.
