The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has signed an MoU with the Saemaul Foundation from the Republic of Korea (RoK) to expand the Saemaul movement in Vietnam, helping to promote digital transformation in agriculture and rural areas.

The MoU was signed by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam and Vice President of the Saemaul Foundation Cho Sunghee on December 14.

The Saemaul Undong, also known as the New Community Movement or the New Village Movement, is a political initiative launched in the RoK in 1970 to modernize its rural economy.

It comprises four contents: consulting to improve local governance capacity, providing training to enhance knowledge and skills, improving the living environment, and increasing incomes for people in rural areas.

Deputy Minister Nam said applying smart technology in agricultural and rural areas is important in fulfilling digital transformation targets set by the government.

The foundation has so far helped eight cites and provinces - Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Ninh Thuan, Hau Giang, An Giang, and Dong Thap - build new rural village projects in 14 villages and communes.