Vietnam and Germany strengthen cooperation in training high-quality agricultural human resources

On November 3, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Deputy Minister Trần Thanh Nam received and held talks with Mr. Marcus Malsch, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy, Agriculture and Rural Development of Thuringia State, Federal Republic of Germany.

Sharing his vision for agricultural development, Deputy Minister Trần Thanh Nam stated that Vietnam is moving toward an ecological and sustainable agricultural model, focusing not on output but on quality and environmental protection. “To achieve this goal, we are harnessing domestic resources with the support of international partners, especially those with technological strengths such as Germany,” he emphasized.

Regarding cooperation with Germany in general and the state of Thuringia in particular, the Deputy Minister expressed his belief that there remains significant potential for expanding multifaceted cooperation, especially in the areas of agriculture, environment, and vocational training.

At the meeting, leaders from both sides discussed several key topics: strengthening cooperation in the fields of agriculture and environment; sharing potential for scientific and technological transfer in production; promoting joint projects and the training of high-quality human resources in agriculture; and connecting enterprises from both sides to expand trade and investment opportunities.

In terms of vocational training, Vietnam acknowledged the effectiveness of existing cooperation programs and expressed the desire to further expand the model between Vietnamese vocational schools and those in the state of Thuringia.

“In the coming time, both sides should continue to exchange vocational training lecturers and experts, including Vietnam’s agricultural extension officers, to gain practical experience, transfer technology, and support farmers in improving their skills.

In addition, I propose that the state of Thuringia consider transferring vocational training programs in mechanics, biotechnology, digital technology, and engineering that meet Vietnam’s needs. At the same time, recognizing equivalent training certificates would create employment opportunities for Vietnamese trainees in Germany,” Deputy Minister Nam stated.

Agreeing with the cooperation orientations proposed by the Vietnamese side, State Secretary Marcus Malsch affirmed that the state will focus on supporting Vietnam in training highly skilled workers in the agricultural sector.

According to him, Germany currently has 14 specialized professions in green agriculture along with a team of experienced instructors, which creates favorable conditions for both sides to expand student and vocational trainee exchange programs to learn from each other. “We not only want to help farmers cultivate more efficiently, but also create opportunities for them to access and learn about new technologies and innovative practices in the agricultural value chain,” he emphasized.

The state of Thuringia stated that it will seek vocational training institutions suitable to Vietnam’s needs and support the idea of organizing a Vietnam–Germany Forum on career transformation and agricultural human resource development. The state also expressed its willingness to coordinate workshops and field visits to share experiences in farming and horticulture.

Regarding vocational certificates for Vietnamese trainees, Mr. Malsch stated that he would consider a plan for equivalence recognition and assign experts to oversee the training program to ensure quality. He also shared that Germany has many experts in fields such as fertilizers, agricultural product preservation, and especially long-term rice storage technology — topics he believes will be of great interest to Vietnam.

“In terms of cooperation potential, the state of Thuringia has a rich agricultural sector, with large-scale specialized farms (some covering up to 6,000 hectares), and a team of production and agricultural economics experts. We warmly welcome Vietnamese agricultural extension officers to visit and learn, and we also hope to soon visit Vietnam to see its agriculture firsthand,” the State Secretary expressed.

During the meeting, PETKUS Technologie GmbH shared modern solutions for rice processing and preservation that help maintain the product’s value and quality over time, thereby contributing to improving farmers’ livelihoods. The company’s representative expressed the desire to cooperate with Vietnam in technology transfer and the development of a sustainable agricultural value chain.