HCM City (VNA)🅷 – The big gap between production and market demand for processed food means there are good prospects for investment in the processing industry, experts said at a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on November 16 to promote investment in food processing.
Food consumption accounts for about 15 percent of Vietnam’s annual GDP, and it increased by 18 percent in 2015. Meanwhile, the food processing and beverage production respectively grew by 8.5 percent and 7.4 percent the same year.
Vietnam is a world leading exporter of agricultural products, which means the food industry holds great development prospects not only in the domestic market but also the foreign ones, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Ho Thi Kim Thoa.
Bui Huy Son, Director of the ministry’s Trade Promotion Agency, said Vietnam’s signing of economic partnership agreements with other countries opened up a vast market for domestic and foreign- invested companies in this industry.
Claudio Dordi, an expert at the European Trade Policy and Investment Support Project (EU-MUTRAP), was of the opinion that there remain many shortcomings in the local food processing industry, such as small-scale production, slow restructuring in agriculture and the rampant use of chemicals and pesticides. However, Vietnam can make use of an abundant workforce and fresh materials to assist the growth of this industry.
Dang Xuan Quang, Deputy Director of the Foreign Investment Agency, admitted that the local food processing hasn’t been attractive to foreign investment. There were 521 FDI projects worth 7.6 billion USD in this industry as of the end of October this year.
To promote foreign investment in food processing, experts advised that local authorities develop zones supplying agricultural materials to serve investors, bolster technology transfer, and try to sign more mutual recognition agreements on processed food quality examination.-VNA
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on October 8 asked HCM City to develop clean food supply chains by collaborating with other localities to form safe farming areas.
Vietnamese and European businesses have shared their information about food safety standards and opportunities for farm produce and beverage products to enter in each other’s market.
Developed with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Da Nang FTZ is designed to become a leading regional economic centre and a strategic growth pole in Vietnam’s new development landscape.
The Binh Duong Association of Supporting Industries (BASI) is expected to promote the usage of domestically manufactured components while supporting businesses in accessing international markets, strengthening linkages, and promoting deeper integration into global supply chains.
PwC Vietnam forecasts a vibrant M&A market in Vietnam’s healthcare sector in 2025, driven by rising demand for high-quality medical services and a growing middle class. Pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, and specialised medical facilities, particularly in ophthalmology and oncology, are predicted to be key targets for M&A.
The central province of Quang Nam is set to become a hub for the medicinal plant industry, with Ngoc Linh ginseng designated as the core crop, under the Prime Minister's decision issued earlier this year.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Illustrative image (Source: VNA)
