Mekong Delta courts foreign investors

Mekong Delta - photo source chinhphu.vn

Speaking on the sidelines of a conference to promote investment in the region on May 22 in Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Thanh Hoang, general director of the Netherlands-backed De Heus LLC Vietnam said the Dutch-invested company had decided to build an additional $15 million animal feed plant and a $3 million aqua-culture research centre in Vinh Long province.

According to Hoang, the company’s existing $12 million aqua-feed plant in Vinh Long was already operating efficiently.

Hirofumi Kishi, general director of Japanese-invested Sapporo Vietnam beer-maker said the company selected the Mekong Delta for its brewery in Vietnam back in 2009.

“With a big population and a unique culinary culture, the Mekong Delta offers massive potential for a growing beer market,” said Kishi.

According to Kishi, Sapporo Vietnam’s brewery in Long An province has an initial capacity of 40 million litres per year and will reach the maximum capacity of 150 million litres per year. After two years of operations, Sapporo beer is now available in 4,000 outlets across Vietnam.   

Yasuzumi Hirotaka, executive director of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Ho Chi Minh City said in addition to its favourable geographical position, the Mekong Delta had major advantages including agricultural and aquatic products, cheap land fees, low-cost labour, and improved traffic infrastructure, including upgraded waterways.

“The most promising investment sector in the Mekong Delta is now developing processing industries thanks to the plentiful availability of rice, seafood and fruit,” said Hirotaka.

EuroCham representative Henk Meyknecht said European investors were paying much more attention to the region, particularly focusing on tourism real estate, food and beverage services, and hotels.  

Speaking on behalf of the 13 cities and provinces in the region, Vo Thanh Thong, Vice Chairman of the Can Tho City People’s Committee underlined the fact that the local authorities were keen to provide the most favourable conditions for investors.

During 2011-2013, the Mekong Delta attracted 271 projects with the total registered capital of $2.3 billion.