Inp.polri.go.id – Jakarta. The Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs explore agriculture and aquaculture cooperation with Vietnam which will involve cooperatives and SMEs. The cooperation will strengthen the position of Indonesia and Vietnam in Southeast Asia. The Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs Teten Masduki says that Indonesia and Vietnam have an important role in regional agriculture and aquaculture sector. “We are open for partnership with Vietnam in improving the quality and quantity of agricultural and fishery products of both countries,” said Teten during a press conference on Friday (3/22/2024. Teten noted various collaboration potentials that he wants to explore, such as modernization of agriculture and aquaculture business ecosystem through digitalization, research and development to improve quality and competitiveness of agricultural and fishery products in the global market. and the development of a business model and partnership of agricultural and fisheries chain supply in the region. Furthermore, he mentions several commodities that are being developed in Indonesia, such as seaweed, shrimp, eel, palm oil, coconut, red ginger, rice, fruit, bamboo and rattan. Meanwhile the focus of commodities development in the aquaculture sector in Vietnam are barramundi, shrimp and lobster. Teten says the commodities of durian fruit, mango, and jackfruit, which are plentiful in Indonesia, offer huge opportunities for Vietnam and Indonesia. “The current Indonesian policy is to push nature based products, including agricultural and fisheries products. There are several superior commodities of agricultural and fisheries products that are being developed by both countries, which opens a huge door of opportunities for both countries,” said Teten. Teten says that through the downstream approach, it would also create quality jobs which ultimately have an impact on increasing per capita income. (ad/ndt/pr/nm)