Lime and pomelo are the fourth and fifth fruits to be officially exported from Vietnam to New Zealand, after mango, dragon fruit and rambutan, following the signing of an important document on Tuesday.
Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern, Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan, and Minister for Trade and Export Growth and Minister of Agriculture of New Zealand Damien O’Connor witnessed the signing of a document on the implementation of a plan to export Vietnam’s lime and pomelo to New Zealand on the day.
The signing ceremony, which took place during an agriculture connection event (AgriConnectioNZ) in Hanoi, marked New Zealand’s official welcome for Vietnamese pomelos and limes.
“This new access for Vietnam’s pomelos and limes to New Zealand will be good news for Vietnam’s exporters and is important in reinforcing the two-way nature of trade between New Zealand and Vietnam in agricultural commodities,” Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said.
Before lime and pomelo, Vietnam started exporting rambutan to New Zealand in 2018, dragon fruit in 2014, and mango in 2011.
In her remarks during Tuesday’s event, Prime Minister Ardern, who is on an official visit to Vietnam from Monday to Thursday, said agriculture is not only a crucial sector of the two economies but also part of the countries’ cultural identities, noting that farmers are a key factor of the economy of New Zealand.
Describing the Pacific Ocean nation and Vietnam as destined partners in agriculture, the PM noted with the common commitment on free trade and their reputation in food production and export, both countries are proud to be providers of food for the whole world.
A memorandum of understanding on cooperation prioritization between the TH True Milk company of Vietnam and the Waikato milk company of New Zealand was also signed during the AgriConnectioNZ.
Two-way agro-forestry-fishery trade between New Zealand and Vietnam reached approximately US$550 million, accounting for 41 percent of total bilateral trade in 2021, according to Minister Hoan.