Mitra Innovation engages in talks with VCCI to contribute to development of AgriTECH in Vietnam

From left: VCCI Deputy Director General International Relations Department Nguyen Van Hai, Mitra Innovation CEO Dr. Ashok Suppiah, VCCI Vice Executive President Dr. Doan Duy Khuong and Mitra Innovation Managing Director and Sri Lanka Australia Chamber of Commerce Vice President Dammika Ganegama

British trade delegates and founders of Mitra Innovation – Dammika Ganegama, Managing Director of Mitra Innovation and Vice President Sri Lanka Australia Chamber of Commerce, and Dr. Ashok Suppiah, CEO Mitra Innovation and ex-founding member of $ 1 b Virtusa Corp – met with leaders of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Nguyen Van Hai, Deputy Director General International Relations Department VCCI, and Dr. Doan Duy Khuong, Vice Executive President of the VCCI. 

Mitra Innovation founders and VCCI leaders discussed alliances between the VCCI and Mitra Innovation in the development and delivery of modern day computing technology – to assist in the upliftment of urban and rural agriculture. 

The novel technology concept – termed AgriTech – is aimed at employing invaluable cloud computing, internet of things, data lakes and predictive analytics to deliver real value for farmers in the management of crops, overall food security of the nation and increase crop yield.

Vietnam is one the fastest growing economies in the world today. With the South China Sea to its western and south western borders, Vietnam enjoys friendly relations with neighbouring Laos, Cambodia and China.  Vietnam is home to over nearly 97 million people and boasts a steady 7% GDP growth rate over the past few years. 

The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry promotes business alliances between countries. During the meeting with the Vice President of VCCI, Mitra Innovation founders discussed the steady improvement of trade between England, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The VCCI will explore pathways to bringing Mitra Innovation’s ICT innovation expertise to Vietnamese farmers and agricultural industry, and will foster alliances with local Vietnamese partners. 

The VCCI also expressed their intentions to invest in education, infrastructure and welfare and were seeking assistance in technologies relating to farming and agriculture. Both parties talked about implementing advanced modern technologies for the further improvement of Vietnam’s agricultural industries.

Vietnam is considered one of the most picturesque countries and is considered a highly fertile land source for crops such as rice, corn, cassava, sweet potatoes, nuts, banana, coconut, citrus, coffee, tea, rubber and a variety of fruit produce such as banana, orange, mango, jackfruit too are easily found on the tropical nation. 

Vietnamese farmers also cultivate arca palms, betel peppers and mulberry bushes – for the production of silk. Vietnam exports produce of the rich seas that borders the nation. Major seafood exports are shrimp, squid, crab and lobster. There are also a number of freshwater fisheries and commercial shrimp farms to Vietnam’s advantage. 

During the meeting, Mitra Innovation founders discussed the possibilities that Mitra Innovation can help Vietnamese farmers and agriculture. Mitra Innovation Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Ashok Suppiah explained: “With the availability of modern cloud computing technologies, it is possible to create and implement intelligent farming solutions – consisting of sensors – that can help farmers by detecting and recommending early preventive action against pests in the soil, or even prevent the spread of infectious diseases in livestock by analysing samples and recommending prescriptive actions.”

Vietnam is one of the top three global coffee exporters, with tea and rubber production also being major export revenue earners to the country.

Mitra Innovation Managing Director and Co-Founder Dammika Ganegama said: “We are delighted to meet with the VCCI and are looking to share our innovative ICT knowledge with farming communities in Vietnam. We hope to bring AgriTech to Vietnam in a consolidated effort to improve food security to the nation, improve harvests and establish agriculture and fisheries as a major export earner to Vietnam. Mitra Innovation looks forward to working with the Government of Vietnam in the innovations and agricultural spaces.”