Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visits to three Middle Eastern nations -- the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and Qatar -- were expected to open a wider door for Vietnam to engage more deeply in Halal food supply.

PM Chinh, his spouse, and a high-ranking delegation arrived at Doha International Airport on Wednesday evening, beginning a three-day official visit to Qatar at the invitation of his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jasim Al-Thani.

Before his trip, the Vietnamese government leader visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

A representative from the Asia-Africa Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that Vietnam is exporting agricultural products, fishery items, and food to Qatar to meet the country's growing demand for Halal products.

Halal refers to food and services prepared according to Muslim law.

Cooperative activities accompanying the prime minister’s visit were centered around boosting Vietnamese exports, with a particular emphasis on Halal food.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Trung, a member of the high-ranking delegation, said that most talks between the prime minister and leaders of these nations focused on promoting the Halal food industry and spotlighted Vietnam’s ability to supply farm produce to the Middle East.

Vietnamese livestock products, animal feed, and agricultural products possess huge potential to meet the demands of these partners.

“The prime minister mentioned the potential for cooperation in the Halal industry and presented multiple cooperative methods and models,” Deputy Minister Trung said.

“We offered a host of solutions for enhancing partnerships between Vietnamese and Middle Eastern enterprises in ensuring food security, including sending Vietnamese experts to the region to support the partners in farming seafood,” he elaborated.

The transition to Halal standards is feasible as many types of Vietnamese farm produce have been exported overseas and met food safety standards such as VietGap, GlobalGap, and HACCP, as well as several standards similar to the Halal practices.

He believed that the prime minister's visits would create more cooperation opportunities, prompting Vietnamese firms to adhere to the Halal benchmarks.

The prevalence of Halal-standard products will facilitate Vietnam tapping the global Halal market worth US$2.7 trillion, including Middle Eastern nations.

A representative from a Vietnamese dairy firm stated that expanding access to the Halal market will boost Vietnam’s food and agricultural sectors, supporting the country’s long-term export growth.

World Halal Council president Zafer Gedikli noted that there are approximately two billion Muslims globally, and the community’s growth is expected to positively impact the Islamic economy.

To effectively enter the Halal industry, Gedikli advised that Vietnam should invest in upskilling its workforce, strengthening partnerships with international firms, and increasing awareness of Halal food standards.

Vietnam, Qatar aim to elevate ties

PM Chinh and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani held talks in Doha on Thursday, agreeing that their bilateral relations would be elevated to a new height in the future.

The two leaders emphasized that the two nations would continue to exchange all-level delegations and deepen cooperation in economic, trade, and investment fields.

The Vietnamese leader suggested Qatar assist Vietnam to develop the Halal industry, especially through sharing experience and transferring technology.

PM Chinh expressed his hope that Qatari investment funds would increase their investments in Vietnam, particularly in strategic infrastructure, as well as agricultural and aquatic product production.

Vietnam is dedicated to supporting and creating favorable conditions for Qatari enterprises to conduct business effectively in the Southeast Asian country.

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