Minister Tran Duc Thang calls on FDI enterprises to share benefits with Viet Nam

On the afternoon of November 6, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang welcomed leaders of three corporations – De Heus, Hung Nhon, and Heineken – to discuss their development orientations in Viet Nam, particularly initiatives to promote green growth and build sustainable value chains.

Mr. Gabor Fluit, Global CEO of De Heus Group, said the enterprise began investing in Viet Nam in 2008 with a clear vision, not only to produce but also to closely link with domestic enterprises and farmers to establish a closed value chain. In recent times, De Heus and Hung Nhon have implemented numerous effective cooperation models across breeding, animal feed production, and the development of modern farm systems.

Currently, De Heus is expanding its production and business activities in Viet Nam while expanding its network of linkages to other countries in the region, including Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, and Cambodia. The group's two main headquarters are located in the Netherlands and Viet Nam. At the same time, De Heus is carrying out a large-scale poultry farming and processing project in Tay Ninh, aiming to export chicken meat to Europe. This market imports around 800,000 tons of chicken meat annually. The De Heus–Hung Nhon production chain is in its final stage of obtaining certification of disease-free zones from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly OIE), paving the way for export even in the event of local outbreaks.

In parallel, De Heus is focusing on developing domestic raw material zones, cooperating with cooperatives and local governments in the Central Highlands to expand corn farming areas, with an expected procurement volume of 100,000 tons this year.

Hung Nhon stated that, together with De Heus, the company is building a closed agricultural ecosystem, from breeding, animal feed production, and livestock farming to processing, with a wastewater treatment system meeting Class A standards to ensure export eligibility. The cooperative model between the two groups is assessed as a sustainable direction, enabling Vietnamese farmers to participate more deeply in the global value chain.

During the working session, the representative of Heineken also proposed that the company be allowed to reuse treated wastewater that meets Class A standards.

Concluding the working session, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang acknowledged the contributions of De Heus and Hung Nhon and affirmed that the Ministry always accompanies businesses. "We welcome FDI enterprises like De Heus, which operate seriously and are committed to Viet Nam. Partnering with domestic companies brings double benefits, both enhancing production capacity and contributing to the overall development of the economy," the Minister said.

According to the Minister, Viet Nam is a potential market with over 100 million people, an average per capita income of around USD 5,000 per year, and an expected double-digit economic growth rate from 2026. Therefore, the room for enterprises to invest, produce, and export is substantial.

The Minister noted that the agricultural sector aims to reach an export turnover of USD 100 billion by 2030, up from USD 62.5 billion in 2024 and an estimated USD 70 billion in 2025. "To achieve this goal, we need enterprises like De Heus, which pioneer in building sustainable value chains," Minister Thang emphasized.

Regarding the enterprise's proposal on wastewater reuse, the Minister directed the Ministry's specialized agencies to review and consider appropriate policy adjustments to avoid resource wastage.

Minister Tran Duc Thang also called on De Heus to increase domestic raw material sourcing and support farmers through purchase prices, breeds, and cultivation techniques. "If the domestic purchase price is slightly higher than imports but helps establish a sustainable raw material area, that is still the right direction," the Minister affirmed.

Minister Tran Duc Thang affirmed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in particular, and Viet Nam in general, always strongly support genuine enterprises that contribute to the country’s overall development and demonstrate responsibility for society and local communities. With the support of businesses and appropriate policies, farmers will remain committed to their profession, paving the way for sustainable development.