HANOI, 25 April 2023 – The Inter-regional Food System Ministerial Roundtable aimed to establish a visionary framework for South-South Cooperation to drive food systems transformation was held in Ha Noi, Viet Nam on 25 April.

The event was chaired by Viet Nam’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan and attended by agriculture ministers, vice-ministers, and senior officials from Cambodia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Rwanda, Germany, Switzerland, St Vincent and the Grenadines as well as representatives from international organisations.

Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) for ASEAN Economic Community Satvinder Singh delivered the opening remarks and shared insights on the significance of digitalisation to enable transformation of agri-food systems as well as recommendations on how to facilitate South-South cooperation in the years to come.

He further informed the participants of various ASEAN initiatives related to digitalisation such as the electronic facilitation of intra-ASEAN trade through the ASEAN Single Window System, application of electronic phytosanitary and animal health certificates to make the trade of agricultural products more efficient and more predictable. DSG Singh also shared the development of the electronic ASEAN Catch Documentation Scheme to improve the traceability of marine capture fisheries by preventing the entry of fish and fishery products from illegal, unreported, and unregulated  fishing activities into the supply chain.

Participants commended ASEAN’s efforts in ensuring sustainable and circular agriculture in the region. They also agreed to deepen cooperation to support digitalisation, digital literacy, and investment in agricultural technology. Initiatives on decarbonisation, reduction of harmful agrochemicals, and sustainable agriculture were also discussed in the meeting.

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For more information, please contact the ASEAN Secretariat’s Food, Agriculture and Forestry Division through nru@asean.org.