The State Bank of Vietnam published remarks by Standing Deputy Governor Dao Minh Tu at a Ministry of Agriculture and Environment conference reviewing one year of the 1 million hectare high-quality, low-emission rice programme in the Mekong Delta, stating that the banking sector is ready and has sufficient resources to lend to the scheme. He called on the ministry and provincial authorities to quickly compile and publish the list of eligible high-quality, low-emission specialised cultivation areas and participating linkages and models so credit institutions can assess and disburse loans to the right borrowers. Agribank alone is prepared to provide around VND 30,000 billion of credit for participating entities, and the State Bank indicated it does not intend to cap lending at that level or set a specific overall limit. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment’s preliminary estimate across 12 Mekong Delta provinces put total domestic credit needs for participating enterprises and cooperatives at about VND 82,989 billion through 2030, including VND 11,641 billion in 2025 and VND 71,348 billion in 2026–2030, with localities already compiling lists of participating cooperatives and businesses for banks’ outreach. Dao Minh Tu also asked for deeper analysis of each stage of the rice value chain, particularly from procurement through processing and export, citing remaining challenges that could affect scaling and performance measurement. A draft framework being developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Agribank for linked lending across production, processing, consumption and branding under the programme is being finalised after incorporating the State Bank’s feedback, with signing expected in April 2025.
State Bank of Vietnam 2025-04-09
State Bank of Vietnam urges faster publication of eligible low-emission rice zones and says banks can fund the 1 million hectare programme beyond Agribank’s VND 30,000 billion
The State Bank of Vietnam announced its readiness to support the 1 million hectare high-quality, low-emission rice programme in the Mekong Delta, with Agribank prepared to provide VND 30,000 billion in credit. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment estimates total domestic credit needs at VND 82,989 billion through 2030. A draft framework for linked lending is being finalized, with signing anticipated in April 2025.