HANOI: The agriculture ministries of Vietnam and Saudi Arabia have agreed to set up a working group to speed up bilateral cooperation in the field, the Voice of Vietnam News reported Saturday. The agreement was reached at talks between Vietnam's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat and Saudi Arabian Agriculture Minister Fahad Bin Abdul Rahman Balghanim in Hanoi Friday. Phat said both sides also agreed to increase the exchange of cooperative delegations, in order to devise concrete projects. He said the Vietnamese government offers preferential treatment and always facilitates foreign investors, particularly in agriculture. Balghanim said he hoped Vietnamese businesses will introduce their products at a fair to be held in Saudi Arabia in September. Saudi Arabia is one of Vietnam's largest trade partners in the Middle East, with two-way trade reaching $744 million in 2010, a year-on-year rise of 64 percent, and $125 million in the first two months of 2011. At a reception Thursday for Balghamin and Minister of Commerce and Industry Abdullah Bin Ahmed Zainal Ali Ridha, who are on an official visit in Vietnam, Vietnam's President Nguyen Minh Triet of Vietnam has asked Saudi Arabia to help Vietnam with energy security. He proposed the establishment of a partnership on food and energy and a channel to provide the businesses with exact and timely information related to each country's investment policies and trade promotion. He urged the two countries' ministries and agencies to further cooperate to promote bilateral trade. The Saudi ministers said the visit is aimed at implementing the initiative of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and carrying out cooperation agreement between the two countries in agriculture, trade, and industry.
