HÀ NỘI — Australian food, rice processing and information technology companies want to accelerate co-operation and expand operations in Việt Nam, according to Australian officials and business representatives who met yesterday in Sydney with Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ.

SunRice CEO Rob Gordon said a number of Vietnamese firms had exported rice to Australia for his company, which carries 30 product labels and has about 2,100 workers in 60 countries across the world.

To reinforce production capacity in Việt Nam, Gordon proposed the Vietnamese Government allow Sunrice to expand investment in the country, transferring skills and sharing scientific technology in rice production, processing and marketing.

Deputy PM Huệ praised Sunrice’s co-operation with Vietnamese rice trade, which was important for both sides, contributing to food security.

He said Việt Nam could supply all types of rice in great volume. The co-operation of rice trade between the two countries grew in 2016 when Việt Nam exported 220,000 tonnes of rice to Australia, over 50 per cent more compared with 2015.

To ensure the trade of rice, Huệ asked businesses on both sides to meet and discuss doing business. The Vietnamese ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development and Trade and Industry would co-operate with Sunrice to help it develop investment in Việt Nam, he pledged.

Speaking with Jan Craps, CEO of Carlton&United Breweries (CBU) which has a 47-per cent share of the Australian market and plans to expand its beer production to the southern province of Bình Dương, Huệ said Việt Nam was interested in sustainable development, ensuring environmental safety and water resource in this area.

In addition, he said, the Vietnamese Government has been conducting divestments at its two biggest brewers - Sài Gòn Beer-Alcohol-Beverages Joint Stock Corporation (Sabeco) and Hà Nội Beer Alcohol and Beverage Joint Stock Corporation (Habeco) - suggesting CBU may have an interest as strategic investor.

Craps said his company expected to be a strategic investor in Sabeco and Habeco when the State divests its investment capital this year.

Bruce Taper, the director of Kinessis, a technology company, said he wanted to take part in urban design projects in Việt Nam. Through the company’s technology apps, it can supply information for  policymakers to help them make decisions on urban management and development. Huệ said many urban areas are facing difficulties in sustainable development.

Seafood meeting

Huệ also met with representatives of the Australian Seafood Importers’ Association, saying the two sides reached good growth in import and export turnover. However, Australia had not yet allowed the import of head on shell-on shrimp from Việt Nam.

Huệ expected the association to support Việt Nam in the export of head on shell-on shrimp to the Australian market.

He expressed his support for ensuring quality but concern about Australia’s technical barriers, which were hurting Vietnamese exporters.

He also proposed the association help Việt Nam build labs to assess the quality of shrimp to raise its shrimp production capacity. — VNS