By AIT Public Affairs
24 February 2024: In a landmark visit, His Excellency Mr. Le Minh Hoan, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, led a high-profile delegation from both the Ministry and various provinces to the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) on February 23, 2024. The visit, marked by vibrant discussions and strategic exchanges, aimed to foster collaborative efforts between Vietnam and AIT, particularly in advancing agricultural and rural development initiatives.
This visit marked a pivotal moment for discussing potential collaborations between the esteemed delegation and AIT’s leadership, led by AIT President Professor Kazuo Yamamoto. Delving into crucial topics, discussions centered on empowering Vietnam’s agriculture and rural development sectors through innovative training initiatives, focusing on nurturing talent at both central and local levels. Vibrant exchanges concerning research and technology transfer, particularly emphasizing the transformative potential of smart agriculture solutions, were integral to the dialogue.
Prof. Kazuo Yamamoto expressed profound gratitude to Minister Le Minh Hoan and the distinguished Vietnamese delegation, underscoring the enduring bond between AIT and Vietnam. Highlighting AIT’s historical contributions since the 1960s, including scholarships for Vietnamese students and the involvement of Vietnamese representatives on the Board of Trustees, Prof. Yamamoto acknowledged the significant role played by alumni such as Dr. Le Quoc Doanh and Mr. Tran van Cong in advancing rural development. The Vietnam Friendship Order, bestowed upon AIT in 2006, symbolizes the depth of this bilateral partnership.
Reflecting on AIT’s pivotal role in education and research, particularly showcased during the recent 30th Anniversary Celebration of AIT Center Vietnam, Prof. Yamamoto emphasized standing at the threshold of a new chapter in cooperation. He stated, “AIT envisions providing academic degrees, fostering research collaboration, and facilitating tech transfer for sustainable development. With expertise in leadership, agriculture, and aquaculture, AIT aims to boost Vietnam’s agricultural sector alongside the Ministry, initiating a promising future towards mutual prosperity.”
H.E. Mr. Le Minh Hoan stressed the importance of the longstanding cooperation between AIT and Vietnam in agriculture development. Vietnam currently boasts three universities, one institute, and 28 colleges dedicated to agricultural education, covering various aspects such as aquaculture, breeding, salt industry, and food technology, which align with AIT’s expertise. Emphasizing AIT’s significant contributions to agricultural education and technology, the minister highlighted the need to further enhance collaboration through training and research exchange, and education transformation to achieve global development. He also expected to develop a new training curriculum in public policy in rural areas, bolstering the private sector’s role, and implement innovative training methodologies. Learning from Thailand’s successful models in the agriculture business, such as one company one product, community development, and agricultural tourism was shared as a key strategy.
To achieve these objectives, plans include forming an AITVN alumni working task force led by the former Deputy Director of MARD, also an AIT Alumni, Dr. Le Quoc Doanh. The task force will focus on green transformation, promoting the private sector, and addressing challenges like green growth, green security, food security, climate change, and sustainable food production. Ongoing projects underscored the commitment, with anticipation for capacity-building programs from AIT to drive further development such as One million hectares of high-quality-low-emission rice in Mekong Delta, Implement National Action Plan to transform transparent responsible and sustainable food system, Development plan to reduce green house gas and methanide emission. Additionally, the Minister proposed collaboration in research, faculty, and student exchanges, alongside organizing seminars to share practical experiences and discuss pertinent agricultural topics. The minister expressed enthusiasm for the potential of fruitful collaboration, building on the existing partnership and leveraging AIT’s expertise in agriculture and related fields.
The visit included a tour of AIT’s advanced facilities, like the Hydraulics Laboratory, the IREM Laboratory, the Digital Agriculture Laboratory, and the Smart Greenhouse. These experiences gave the delegation a firsthand look at AIT’s innovations, strengthening our partnership.
In addition to official discussions, the visit encouraged friendly interactions between the delegation and Vietnamese faculty, staff, and students at AIT. This exchange of ideas also laid a strong foundation for future collaboration.
