On the afternoon of March 19, 2026, the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank) held a meeting with Enterprise Singapore, a government agency under the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry, to exchange experiences and discuss cooperation opportunities in agricultural finance, particularly related to the pilot agricultural financing program and the implementation of the Sustainable Development of 1 Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Production in the Mekong Delta.

The meeting was attended by senior representatives from Enterprise Singapore, including Ms. Sharon Tay (Director of Food Production and Agri-tech), Ms. Suwen Koh (Deputy Director for Southeast Asia), along with business development experts. On Agribank's side, Mr. Nguyễn Quang Ngọc – Deputy Head of the Credit Policy Department – and representatives from related departments participated in the discussion.

Enterprise Singapore, established on April 1, 2018, aims to support Singaporean businesses from startup to international expansion through capacity building, innovation, and market expansion. The agency is currently developing a pilot agricultural financing program worth approximately USD 1 million over the course of one year, targeting around 1,000 rice farmers in the Mekong Delta. The program aims to test financial models and share data across the agricultural value chain. The results are expected to provide a foundation for broader implementation in the future.

Ms. Sharon Tay highlighted that Enterprise Singapore is particularly interested in agricultural programs that contribute to regional food security, and emphasized the organization’s strengths in three key areas: finance, data, and solutions using bio-based products to minimize environmental impacts. She expressed high regard for the 1 Million Hectares Rice Project in Vietnam and recognized Agribank as the key institution in its implementation.

Introducing Agribank's role, Mr. Nguyễn Quang Ngọc shared that with a network of more than 2,200 transaction points covering 100% of communes nationwide, Agribank has extended financial services to even remote areas where other financial institutions have yet to reach. As of February 2026, Agribank’s agricultural and rural development loan balance reached nearly VND 1.27 trillion, accounting for 64% of the bank’s total agricultural sector loans.

During the exchange, both parties focused on discussing Enterprise Singapore’s agricultural financing program for rice production and the potential for collaboration to implement this program in Vietnam. Enterprise Singapore also sought to learn from Agribank’s experience in the 1 Million Hectares project and its current agricultural financial programs.

The Sustainable Development of 1 Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice project, approved by the Vietnamese government, aims to promote modern, sustainable agricultural production, enhance value-added products, and improve farmers’ incomes, while contributing to international commitments on greenhouse gas reduction. Agribank, as the leading state-owned commercial bank in agricultural and rural development investment, has signed and implemented many collaborative programs to realize the project’s objectives, including a VND 30 trillion loan program for rice production, processing, and consumption in the Mekong Delta.

Mr. Ngọc emphasized that Agribank is committed to actively supporting programs that ensure regional food security and agricultural finance programs that benefit farmers, contributing to the development of a sustainable agricultural sector.

Kylie Nguyen