Mayor Rafael Torrealba warmly welcomed Ambassador Vu Trung My, the Embassy delegation, representatives of the Venezuela-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce (CAVENVIET), and several Vietnamese agricultural businesses. He affirmed that the visit would help enhance mutual understanding and enhance connections between Venezuelan localities, including Paez and Portuguesa and their counterparts in Vietnam.

He also expressed appreciation for the traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership between Venezuela and Vietnam, which was built by the late President Hugo Chavez and Vietnamese leaders and has continued to see positive development. Personally, he conveyed deep admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnamese people, and hailed Vietnam’s remarkable socio-economic achievements, particularly in agriculture.

At a meeting with Ambassador Vu Trung My, Vice Governor for Economic Development Vicente Boscan said Portuguesa is the leading agricultural producer in Venezuela, known as the country’s “rice bowl” with 65% of total rice output. The state also leads in other crops, including corn (52%), sugarcane (55%), sesame (95%), and sunflower (72%).

According to Boscan, in line with the country’s efforts to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on oil, Portuguesa has identified agriculture as a top development priority. He noted that Venezuela sees Vietnam as a successful model in agriculture and hopes to learn from its experience and step up cooperation, aiming to turn agriculture into a key economic pillar. He added that Portuguesa is ready to welcome and facilitate Vietnamese investors interested in local projects.

Speaking at the meetings and in interviews with local media, Ambassador Vu Trung My congratulated the organizers on the success of the Paez 2025 expo. Now in its second edition, the fair attracted nearly 200 domestic and international companies, showing growing business interest. The ambassador gave an overview of Vietnam’s current situation, its economic reform and integration process, major development achievements, and the country’s economic and trade ties with Venezuela, while highlighting the potential for bilateral cooperation.

Stressing the Vietnamese Embassy’s role in supporting sectors, localities, and businesses in line with a people- and enterprise-centered approach, Ambassador Vu Trung My affirmed his commitment to serving as a bridge for promoting economic and trade relations between the two countries, particularly in agriculture, where Vietnam holds strong advantages, with Portuguesa and other Venezuelan localities.

As part of the visit, the Embassy delegation and CAVENVIET held meetings and discussions with local businesses, and introduced key Vietnamese agricultural products such as rice, coffee, cashew, cinnamon, and tea at the Paez 2025 event.

Vietnam hopes for stronger economic ties with Venezuela: ambassador

Vietnam always attaches importance to the traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership with Venezuela, and wishes to intensify bilateral economic, trade, and investment ties for the sake of the two peoples, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Vu Trung My.