Delegates attending the Forum.

With favorable climate and soil conditions, the Northwest region produces many temperate and subtropical fruit trees such as mangoes, longan, plums, passion fruit, oranges, and bananas; perennial crops such as coffee and rubber; non-timber forest products; and products with biological value and indigenous medicinal herbs. Thanks to the investment and attention of the Party and State, and the efforts of local authorities, agriculture in the Northwest region has developed quite comprehensively, forming many specialized production areas; agricultural products are increasingly widely consumed in both domestic and international markets.

Delegates attending the Forum.

In 2024, the value of agricultural products exported reached approximately US$245 million, with Son La accounting for US$190 million, Dien Bien over US$22.4 million, Lai Chau over US$6.5 million, and Lao Cai US$25 million. Some typical export items include: coffee (over US$90 million); tea (US$22 million); cassava starch (over US$36 million); longan and mango (approximately US$30 million); and cinnamon essential oil (approximately US$22 million). However, production in the Northwest region remains fragmented and small-scale; supply chain linkages are not yet sustainable; and processing, preservation, and traceability technologies are limited. Many products have not yet built strong brands and are mainly consumed domestically or exported in raw form.

Delegates participating in the panel discussion at the Forum.

The delegates participating in the seminar focused on discussing the development of several key products such as Arabica coffee, macadamia nuts, fruit trees, and medicinal herbs, with an emphasis on research, linkages, and the need for connecting product consumption. Based on assessments and exchanges, the delegates affirmed that for sustainable development of agricultural and forestry production and trade in the Northwest region, localities need to promote digital transformation, build concentrated raw material areas, invest in logistics infrastructure, and support businesses and cooperatives to participate deeply in the value chain.

At the Forum, representatives from the provinces of the Northwest region presented papers on the development of fruit trees and industrial crops, the need for connecting product consumption; production - trade connections - considerations regarding diseases; production and trade of ginseng and other medicinal herbs; and the development of medicinal plants under the forest canopy in the Northwest region.

Speaking at the Forum, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment emphasized: In the coming time, the Ministry will continue to coordinate with localities to review and propose mechanisms and policies on land, credit, and support for cooperatives. The Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development will coordinate with relevant units and Commercial Attachés and Agricultural Attachés to organize export promotion in China, Japan, the EU, the UAE, etc. At the same time, he requested the Northwest provinces to urgently complete the identification of key fruit production areas; develop agricultural processing industrial clusters linked to raw material areas, with Son La as the core connecting with the northern midland and mountainous provinces. From there, the Northwest will become a modern, green, clean, efficient, and sustainable agricultural and forestry production region, affirming its position on the national and international agricultural map.