Record high agricultural, forestry and fishery export turnover and trade surplus

On the afternoon of December 27, in Hanoi, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended and delivered a speech at the conference to review the work in 2024 and deploy the 2025 plan of the agriculture and rural development sector.

Also attending were Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan; Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung; leaders of ministries, departments, branches and central agencies. Attending the conference at local bridges were leaders of the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committees of provinces and cities.

Comrade Tran Van Quan, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired at Hai Duong bridge point.

According to the report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the agricultural and rural sector implemented the 2024 plan in conditions with mixed advantages, difficulties and challenges. In particular, storm No. 3 (Yagi) caused severe damage to agricultural production in the northern provinces. Damage to agricultural, forestry and fishery production was about 31,800 billion VND and reduced the growth rate of the whole sector by about 0.3-0.5 percentage points. However, the sector still maintained high growth momentum, developed comprehensively, achieved and exceeded most of the main targets.

Notably, the GDP growth of the whole industry is estimated at about 3.3% (down 0.53% compared to 2023, mainly due to storm damage). Agriculture continues to affirm its important position and is the pillar of the economy, firmly ensuring food security, major balances of the economy and contributing to macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation. The output and productivity of many key products increased quite high, typically rice of nearly 43.7 million tons, up 0.4% compared to 2023 and productivity of 61.4 quintals/ha, up 0.3 quintals/ha; fresh meat of all kinds 8.1 million tons, up 3.5%; aquatic products 9.6 million tons, up 2.4%; exploited wood of nearly 22.9 million m3³, up 9.8%.

Total export turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products and trade surplus increased to record highs of 62.5 billion USD, up 18.7% and 17.9 billion USD, up 46.8% respectively (accounting for about 71.6% of the country's surplus). Of which, there were 7 goods and groups of goods exported over 3 billion USD (plus rubber compared to 2023).

Relevant ministries, branches and localities have promptly advised and proposed to the Government and the Prime Minister to synchronously and promptly deploy groups of policies and solutions to support and overcome the consequences of storm No. 3 to quickly stabilize people's lives and housing, restore agricultural production, and contribute to promoting economic growth (damage caused by storm No. 3 was over VND 83,700 billion, of which agricultural production accounted for 38%).

The program of building new rural areas and innovating production organization continues to be deployed and implemented in a practical, effective and in-depth manner. By the end of 2024, about 78.7% of communes nationwide will meet new rural standards; of which 2,225 communes will meet advanced new rural standards and 532 communes will meet model new rural standards. There are 302 district-level units and 5 provinces that meet new rural standards.

In addition, the agricultural and rural sectors still have limitations and shortcomings that need to be focused on overcoming, such as: Vietnam has not yet removed the EC's "yellow card" on seafood fishing; violations still occur at some food production and trading establishments; the rate of communes meeting new rural standards has not increased since the beginning of the year...

Speaking at the conference, on behalf of the Government, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated the efforts, results and achievements of the agriculture and rural development sector, making important contributions to the overall achievements and results of the whole country in 2024.

According to the Prime Minister, 2025 is the year of acceleration and breakthrough to the finish line of the entire 2020-2025 term, the year when Party Congresses at all levels will take place, preparing for the 14th National Party Congress. Therefore, the industry must accelerate, break through, and join the whole country in successfully implementing the socio-economic development plan according to the resolutions of the Party, National Assembly, and Government, in which the GDP growth target is at least over 8% and strives to reach double digits in 2025.

Regarding the main targets for 2025, the Prime Minister requested to strive for a GDP growth rate of 3.5-4% for the whole industry; total export turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products to reach 70 billion USD; the rate of rural households using clean water according to standards to be over 60%; forest coverage rate to be 42.02%...

Regarding guiding ideology, the Prime Minister first requested to focus on leading and directing the work of planning, building strategies, institutions, mechanisms, policies, and removing bottlenecks and bottlenecks to develop the industry quickly and sustainably.

Second, further promote the application of science and technology, digital transformation and innovation to develop the digital economy, green economy, circular economy, sharing economy, knowledge economy, night-time economy, etc.

Third, it contributes effectively to responding to climate change in key areas, especially subsidence, landslides, drought, and flooding in the Mekong Delta, northern mountainous areas, central regions, and Central Highlands.

Fourth, farmers must be more prosperous and happier, the countryside must be more modern, and agriculture must be more advanced. Farmers are the center and the subject, agriculture is the driving force, and the countryside is the foundation...