Memorandum of Understanding Signed in Comacchio
On October 16, 2024, the Italy-Vietnam Foundation organized a visit to the Po Delta Park in Emilia-Romagna by a large Vietnamese delegation: about forty representatives from the Embassy of Vietnam, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the three Vietnamese provinces of Kon Tum, Nghe An, and Ha Nam.
As part of the collaboration efforts, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Italy-Vietnam Foundation and the Po Delta Park. This document represents a starting point for the development of projects and initiatives for cooperation between two territories that are geographically distant but share significant similarities.
The signed Memorandum (link memorandum) includes:
- Enhancement of fishing, aquaculture, and agricultural supply chains and products
- Artisanal salt production
- Mitigation of the effects of climate change, particularly marine eustasy
- Ecosystem services provided by wetlands
- Promotion of birdwatching
- Recognition of women’s roles in the society and economy of the Biosphere Reserves
The Vietnamese delegation, accompanied by Franco Venturi, Vice President of the Italy-Vietnam Foundation, was welcomed at the Manifattura dei Marinati in Comacchio by the President of the Po Delta Park and the Mayor of Comacchio.
Following a presentation of the characteristics and opportunities of the delta region, the Park’s Director, Massimiliano Costa, illustrated activities such as the promotion and farming of certain fish species, including eels, as well as initiatives aimed at encouraging birdwatching and tourism development.
Entrepreneurial opportunities in the region were discussed by Piergiorgio Vasi, a technical representative for the Wildlife Sector and Marine Aquaculture and Fisheries of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Mauro Giannattasio, Secretary General of the Chamber of Commerce of Ferrara-Ravenna, and Arianna Silvestri, Head of the Fishing and Aquaculture Sector at Legacoop Estense.
This visit is part of a broader framework initiated by the Italy-Vietnam Foundation and the Po Delta Park of Emilia-Romagna to promote and exchange best practices.
Notably, the Po Delta Park and ENEA were selected, upon recommendation by the Italy-Vietnam Foundation, as Italian experts invited to participate in the Ho Chi Minh Economic Forum 2024, held from September 24 to 27, 2024, in Vietnam.
During this occasion, the Italy-Vietnam Foundation organized a series of meetings for representatives from the Po Delta Park and ENEA with the Hau Giang Province and the Can Gio UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Numerous commonalities and areas for future collaboration emerged during these discussions.