In his working trip, accompanying Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to the US from May 11-17, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan worked with Walmart Corporation to promote Vietnam agriculture to the global hypermarket chain. 

Minister Le Minh Hoan met Mr. Paul Dyck, Vice President, International Government Affairs of Walmart on May 13 in Washington DC. The meeting also featured the attendance of representatives of localities and fruit, seafood, timber, and timber products exporters. 

Mr. Paul Dyck stated that Walmart relies mostly on the supply capacity of its partners to bump up its business's strength. Approximately one-third of Walmart's merchandise is provided by international partners. The hypermarket's products must adhere to food safety, quality, and sustainability regulations. It intends to acquire all sorts of agricultural, forestry, and fisheries goods from Vietnam to serve its customers, provided that these items fit the above criteria. 

Therefore, there is no limit to future potential if Vietnamese agro-forestry-fishery providers can comprehend and effectively implement the requirements. Vietnamese agricultural products imported into Walmart may not only serve the US but also roll out to Canada and China via its systems in these markets.  

MARD Minister Le Minh Hoan praised Walmart's position on the worldwide market and its approach to establishing standards to ensure customers’ benefits. The Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is pushing its role in coordinating material supply and developing codes for agricultural, livestock, and aquaculture facilities to assure food safety, quality, and adherence to environmental requirements. This sets the groundwork for connecting Vietnam's agro-forestry-fishery products to global hypermarkets, including Walmart, therefore mitigating market volatility and disruptions to the global supply chain. 

He requested that Walmart cooperate closely with the ministry to build forums for informing Vietnam's agroforestry-fishery suppliers about the unit's standards and criteria. Together, the parties will develop material areas, packaging, preservation, and processing facilities that meet Walmart's standards. Then, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries goods from Vietnam would be delivered methodically and sustainably through the worldwide Walmart system. 

Paul Dyck, vice president of Walmart, eagerly welcomed the proposals and stated that Walmart will send representatives to the aforementioned forums. The two sides agreed to establish a regular collaboration mechanism in the form of a Coalition between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, agro-forestry-fishery providers in Vietnam, localities, and Walmart. 

Walmart is an American multinational retail corporation headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, in the United States. It operates a chain of hypermarket chains, grocery stores,s and department stores in the US. Walmart runs around 10,500 hypermarkets and e-commerce websites in 24 countries. International Walmart comprises 5,100 retail stores and over 550,000 affiliated businesses globally.

Translated by Linh Linh