Korea hands over Veterinary Diagnostic Center Capacity Enhancement Project

The project worth nearly 100 billion VND helps the Central Veterinary Diagnostic Center meet international standards on biosafety and disease prevention capacity.

On the morning of November 10, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea (MAFRA) to organize the handover ceremony of the Project "Improving the capacity of the Central Veterinary Diagnostic Center - Phase 2 (2022 - 2025)" funded by the Korean Government with non-refundable ODA.

The ceremony took place in a solemn atmosphere, with the participation of Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien, Mr. Kim Shin Jae - Director of the Department of Global Agricultural Development, MAFRA, along with representatives of agencies of the two countries, international organizations and technical partners.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien gave a speech at the ceremony. Photo: Bao Thang.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien affirmed that the project is a vivid demonstration of the strategic cooperation relationship between the two countries, especially in the fields of agriculture and veterinary medicine.

He emphasized that Korea is not only an important trade and investment partner, but also a country that accompanies Vietnam in many development cooperation programs, technology transfer, and technical capacity improvement.

According to the Deputy Minister, the completion of the second phase of the project will help Vietnam strengthen its capacity for diagnosis, testing, research and vaccine testing, meeting the requirements of disease prevention in the context of climate change and increasingly complex cross-border epidemics.

“This is an important foundation for the Central Veterinary Diagnostic Center to approach international standards, serving the work of ensuring biosafety, food safety and public health,” he said.

According to Mr. Nguyen Tung, Deputy Director in charge of the Central Veterinary Diagnosis and Testing Center, the second phase of the aid project worth 5.4 billion won (equivalent to 3.9 million USD - about 100 billion VND) is funded by MAFRA through the Korea Rural Development Corporation (KRC).

The project focuses on upgrading infrastructure and equipment, including two biosafety level 2+ (BSL-2+) laboratories, one animal disease testing facility with biosafety level 3 (ABSL-3) and three specific pathogen-free (SPF) animal farms.

Deputy Director in charge Nguyen Tung (left) signed the minutes with the Korean side. Photo: Bao Thang.

These are key items that help the Center diagnose and test dangerous diseases in cattle, goats, sheep, and conduct research to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccines. Along with that, the project also supports training and coaching for technical staff, organizes specialized seminars, and sends Korean experts to advise and transfer technology.

Mr. Tung said that if phase 1 (2017 - 2020) laid the foundation for laboratory modernization, phase 2 has helped the Center "step up to a new level", completing the chain of capabilities from diagnosis to testing. "This is not only a physical project but also a symbol of trust, friendship and scientific cooperation between the two countries," he emphasized.

On behalf of the Korean side, Mr. Kim Shin Jae, Director of the Global Agriculture Development Agency (MAFRA), said that Vietnam is one of the key partners in Korea's development cooperation policy in the agricultural sector.

He appreciated the Center's efforts in effectively operating items from phase 1, especially its contributions to animal disease control and support for Covid-19 prevention.

Mr. Kim emphasized that MAFRA and KRC will continue to support Vietnam in human resource training, technology transfer and expanding new cooperation programs in the fields of veterinary medicine, food safety and cross-border disease control. “The success of today’s project is the foundation for the two sides to move towards deeper cooperation, towards the common goal of protecting animal and human health,” he said.

Delegates cut the ribbon. Photo: Bao Thang.

The Central Veterinary Diagnostic Center is currently the leading unit in diagnosing, testing and researching animal diseases in Vietnam, under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine. Over the years, the Center has participated in monitoring, early detection and contributed to controlling dangerous diseases such as African swine fever, avian influenza, lumpy skin disease, foot and mouth disease, etc.

Thanks to the results from phase 1 of the project, the Center's testing capacity has increased 2 - 2.5 times, becoming a financially autonomous unit and qualified to participate in testing and evaluating vaccines for exporting livestock products.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Deputy Director Nguyen Tung pledged that the Center will safely, effectively and sustainably operate the invested items, maximize the value of aid, and continue to share technology and research results with units in the system to spread the effectiveness of Vietnam - Korea cooperation.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien presented commemorative medals to three representatives from the Korean side. Photo: Bao Thang.

Since 2010, the Korean Government has sponsored many technical assistance programs for Vietnam in the field of veterinary medicine. The completion of the second phase of the project marks more than 15 years of sustainable cooperation between the two specialized agencies, while making a practical contribution to the common goals of the region in preventing animal diseases, ensuring biosafety and developing sustainable agriculture.

Within the framework of the event, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien awarded the Medal for the cause of agriculture and rural development in Vietnam to 3 men: Kim Meyong Won - Representative of KRC Vietnam KRC, Lee Myung Sik - Chairman of Wosem Company and Ryu Taek Eun - Chairman of Sung An Company.

The Deputy Minister also presented gifts of gratitude to Mr. Kim Shin Jae - Director of the Department of Global Agricultural Development (MAFRA) and 7 representatives from the Korean side.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/han-quoc-ban-giao-du-an-nang-cao-nang-luc-trung-tam-chan-doan-thu-y-d783508.html