VRG redefines the role of rubber enterprises in the global value chain

According to the Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG), from May 12 to 17, Mr. Tran Cong Kha, Chairman of the Board of Directors, led the delegation to participate in a series of activities at the SelectUSA Investment Summit – the premier investment promotion event organized by the U.S. government. This was VRG’s first official participation as a key enterprise in Vietnam’s high-tech agriculture sector. The event brought together thousands of international businesses and organizations, providing an ideal platform for VRG to showcase its capabilities, seek investment opportunities, and access new technologies.

Additionally, the VRG delegation held important meetings with the Embassy, Consulate, and major business partners in Washington D.C. and New York. Through these engagements, VRG hopes to expand its international partner network and gain support from diplomatic representatives in connecting and promoting investment. This was also an opportunity to present the development potential of VRG’s green industrial park projects in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

At the SelectUSA Investment Summit, VRG leaders and representatives from Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance participated in plenary sessions, breakout discussions, and business networking activities between Vietnam, the U.S., and ASEAN. Key topics included: the United States’ advantages in attracting high-tech industrial investment; cooperation prospects in innovation and high-quality workforce development; strategies for sustainable supply chains; and global energy security. Notably, VRG expressed strong interest in smart industrial park models and the preferential investment policies of states like Texas, California, and Ohio, which show significant potential for collaboration in wood processing and smart agricultural equipment industries.

The VRG delegation also met with Vietnam’s Ambassador to the United States – Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dung – to discuss support in investor relations, trade promotion, and planning for the development of a Vietnam–U.S. industrial park in both countries. This industrial park is expected to serve as a bridge for Vietnamese small and medium enterprises to access the U.S. market. It will also be a hub for environmentally friendly production, clean technology applications, and modern governance practices.

The delegation also worked with the Vietnamese Consulate in New York to explore cooperation opportunities related to sourcing John Deere agricultural harvesting machinery – helping to increase the import of modern equipment and enhance mechanization capacity in rubber production and high-tech agriculture. Partnering with a leading brand like John Deere not only boosts labor productivity but also ensures environmental standards, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and advances toward low-carbon agriculture – a goal Vietnam’s government is pursuing in its National Climate Change Strategy.

A key highlight of the trip was the working session between VRG and representatives of First Solar (U.S.) – a leading company in the solar energy sector. The two sides discussed potential cooperation in developing renewable energy for VRG’s industrial parks in Vietnam and Laos–Cambodia; implementing large-scale solar and wind power projects aimed at building environmentally friendly green industrial zones; and supporting access to advanced energy storage technologies to help VRG’s industrial parks approach carbon neutrality. This strategic direction aligns with Vietnam’s COP26 commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The partnership also opens opportunities to develop a regional renewable energy equipment supply chain in Southeast Asia.

As a major economic group with nearly 400,000 hectares of production land, VRG is increasingly committed to green transformation, high-tech applications, and compliance with international standards such as ESG, EPR, PEFC/EUDR. Currently, VRG operates in more than 40 countries through its network of partners and customers, with key markets like Japan, Germany, the United States, and South Korea accounting for a significant portion of exports in processed rubber, industrial wood, and agricultural materials. Adhering to international standards has helped VRG expand into demanding markets like Europe, which require strict traceability and sustainable development.

The working trip to the U.S. clearly demonstrates VRG’s commitment to redefining the role of rubber enterprises in the global value chain; transitioning to a circular, green, and sustainable economic model; proactively integrating into international investment partnerships – particularly in its strengths such as land, wood processing, clean energy, and industrial park infrastructure. In the near future, VRG aims to increase the share of renewable energy to 30% of total internal consumption at its industrial parks while developing a quality management system aligned with ISO 50001 standards. These steps will not only optimize operational costs but also elevate the VRG brand’s reputation in the global market.