The European Union, VIRI and its Partners Promote Eco-fair Agri-food Products in Vietnam

Under the framework of the project "Promotion of supply and demand of Eco-Fair Agri-food processing products in Vietnam" (Eco-Fair), co-financed by the European Union with EUR 1.5 million through the EU’s SWITCH-Asia Programme, VIRI and its partners held an online Policy Dialogue on “Promotion of supply and demand of Eco-Fair Agri-food products".

The Policy Dialogue shared some results and initial impacts of the Eco-Fair project that promotes Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) practices in eco-fair agri-food products supply chains, which contributes to the development of sustainable livelihoods and circular economy in Vietnam. The Eco-Fair project targets micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), consumer groups in agri-food processing sectors, as well as business intermediaries and relevant government authorities.

Mr. Koen Duchateau, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Vietnam stated “For decades, the European Union has been a leader in addressing global challenges like climate change, environment, and sustainable consumption and production (SCP). The European Green Deal, adopted by the EU in December 2019, is the growth agenda for Europe in the next decades, aiming at promoting circularity in energy-intense sectors, ensuring greener and more sustainable food processing, setting ambitious standards for products, reducing food losses and waste and empowering consumers in their daily choices for products and services. The Eco-Fair project presents a great opportunity for Vietnam to progress towards a more sustainable agri-food sector by engaging value chain stakeholders, including private sector and consumer groups, and policy-makers to achieve the switch to more sustainable consumption and production”.

Dr. Nguyen Bao Thoa, director of Vietnam Rural Industries Research and Development Institute (VIRI) said: “The Eco-Fair project was born with a mission of changing the behavior of organizations and individuals in order to exert positive measures on environmental and social change. We wish to inspire the values of socio-environmental sustainability through the implementation of project activities such as awareness raising, capacity building, building MSMEs support networks, setting up sectoral Code of Conducts on sustainability, advocating on policies that support these aims.”.

Ngo San (Vietnam Business Forum)