A delegation of officials from the Beninese Government and Ivory Coast’s cotton-cashew council is seeking cooperation with southern Binh Phuoc province to improve cashew cultivation techniques and productivity back home.

During a meeting with local authorities at Dong Xoai town on November 24, they said they wanted to establish joint working groups to forge partnerships with Vietnamese enterprises.

The West African delegates (L) at a meeting with local authorities. Photo: khoahocthoidai.vn 

They asked for information on Vietnam’s import demand for the goods, and then invited local officials to visit West Africa in a bid to encourage long-term cooperation.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Huy Phong said local producers are capable of processing 1 million tonnes of cashews per year. The quantity falls short of local demand, opening opportunities for imports.

With regard to the partnership, he proposed exchanging seeds and organising seminars.

Binh Phuoc would create favourable conditions for the delegation to study cultivation and processing methods in the province, he said.

According to Phong, 150,000 hectares of local cashews turned out 200,000 tonnes of raw cashews annually. There are 200 enterprises operating in the sector. Most of the processed products are exported, but some are distributed across major domestic markets, including Hanoi, Binh Duong and Dong Nai.

Source: VNA