Vietnam farmers find eager trade partner: Cuba

Speaking at a trade conference on September 23 in the City, the Consul General pointed out that though the US has relaxed a trade embargo with Cuba allowing for exports of food and many other products, there are so many strings attached it makes trade with the US cumbersome and expensive.

This creates many opportunities for Vietnam, he said, adding that Cuba should be a key market for the nation’s farms and agribusinesses. Cuba imports nearly 80% of its food and is home to more than 11 million potential customers.

Deputy Director Tran Ngoc Liem of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry in turn noted that Vietnam has a comparative advantage in agriculture and its top exports include rice, fruits and vegetables, which are all commodities that are major imports for Cuba.

Cuba's demand for rice per capita is the highest of any country in the Western Hemisphere, making it a natural market for Vietnamese rice farmers to enter and expand in a big way, he underscored.