Fisheries control forces patrol, inspect and control at sea. Photo: Tra Vinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
According to the US Embassy, on December 5, at a meeting with Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam Phung Duc Tien at the Region 5 Fisheries Training Center, Phu Quoc, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper announced a new aid package worth 12.5 million USD for Vietnam.
Through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL), this assistance package will support Vietnam in enhancing its maritime law enforcement capacity and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The aid package will be allocated to Vietnam’s law enforcement agencies, including the Fisheries Surveillance Department, Ministry of Public Security, and Vietnam Customs, to purchase small boats, provide capacity building training, and develop models to support maritime law enforcement training and education.
During his visit to Phu Quoc, Ambassador Knapper also observed trainees, mostly female officers, from Vietnam’s fisheries law enforcement agencies and Customs, practicing boarding inspection vessels. This activity is part of a series of capacity building activities to promote the role of women in maritime law enforcement, supported by the INL office, the US Mission to Vietnam.
The US Embassy affirmed the US commitment to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific region and a strong, prosperous, independent, and resilient Vietnam. These new assistance programs are part of the US and Vietnam’s efforts to deepen maritime law enforcement cooperation and enhance maritime security capacity under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. It is also a testament to how both governments are working together to address common regional and global challenges.
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