Deputy Minister of Agricultural and Rural Development, Ha Cong Tuan, told delegates in a meeting to review the afforestation and wood processing industry in Hanoi on Thursday that forest quality should be enhanced to ensure economic growth as well as farmers’ livelihood: “Forest quality and supply chain connectivity should be strengthened with favorable investment policies in long-term biodiversity protection. Production support for poor farmers and the vulnerable should be made available for afforestation and market access.”

Vietnam’s wood processing exports reached 140 countries and generated more than 11 billion dollars last year.