Processing industry: A new growth engine for Gia Lai.

(GLO) - With nearly 977,000 hectares of agricultural land and a total food production estimated at over 1.35 million tons in 2025, Gia Lai possesses a crucial foundation for developing the processing industry, especially the deep processing of agricultural products. The processing industry is becoming a new growth driver for Gia Lai.

In 2026, Gia Lai aims for an Industrial Production Index (IIP) increase of 9.5-10.5% compared to 2025, and an industrial value-added increase of 11.5-12%. This is a realistic goal as the province continues to leverage its potential and advantages in developing concentrated raw material areas, applying high technology and advanced technology to production along the value chain, linking production with deep processing, and creating products with increasingly higher added value.

The processing industry plays a leading role.

Gia Lai's industrial landscape has shown many positive signs recently, with the agricultural processing industry continuing to play a leading role. In January 2026 alone, the province's Industrial Production Index (IIP) is estimated to have increased by 16.1% compared to the same period last year, with the processing and manufacturing industry growing by 14.4%.

Rubber processing line of Chư Păh Rubber Company Limited. Photo: Vũ Thảo

This result stems from the fact that many large factories have become operational and are maximizing their capacity; the consumer market has expanded; and new investment capital continues to flow into the industrial sector. Currently, key processed industrial products such as refined sugar, cassava starch, tea, fruit juice, milk, bio-fertilizer, granite, rubber, seafood, bird's nest drink, and other nutritious beverages... all record significant growth, reflecting the clear recovery and development of the manufacturing sector.

Not only is production increasing, but the processed agricultural product sector is also gradually shifting from selling raw products to selling value-added products, contributing to higher incomes for farmers and reducing crop risks. In the industry structure, sugar and rubber continue to play a pivotal role.

Mr. Le Anh Tuan, General Director of Chu Pah Rubber Company Limited, said: The company currently manages over 14,000 hectares of rubber plantations, including over 9,800 hectares in Vietnam and over 4,200 hectares in Cambodia. The company has two processing plants with modern production lines, a capacity of over 10,000 tons per year, producing products under the CHUPACO brand that meet international standards.

During the production process, the company focuses on applying science and technology, improving product quality, and building a strong brand in both domestic and international markets. Currently, the company has achieved many prestigious certifications such as ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, TCVN 3769:2016, ISO/IEC 17025:2017, and has been granted sustainable forest management certification according to VFCS/PEFC-FM, PEFC-CoC product chain certification, and has been granted the right to use the "Vietnam Rubber" certification mark.

The entire province currently has 107,408 hectares of coffee plantations for processing and export. - In the photo: Farmers in Dak Doa commune harvesting coffee. Photo: VT

Besides processing agricultural and forestry products, the processed medicinal herbs sector in Gia Lai also has significant potential for development. Ms. Vo Thi Tuyet Ha, Deputy General Director of Truong Sinh International Science Development Co., Ltd. (Pleiku ward), said: Each year, the company consumes about 15,000 tons of medicinal herbs, creating an ecosystem of more than 200 products serving consumer health care and the aquaculture sector.

According to Ms. Ha, to sustainably develop the medicinal herb industry, Truong Sinh continues to build a closed value chain encompassing raw material sourcing, deep processing, and product commercialization; at the same time, it promotes investment in deep processing and scientific research to enhance the added value of medicinal herbs.

In the processed food sector, especially products that have received rural industrial certification such as Baka coffee from Baka Co., Ltd. (Ia Hrung commune); Hai Binh cashew nuts from Hai Binh Gia Lai Cashew Nut Joint Stock Company (Hoi Phu ward); Hoa Sen soy sauce from Hoa Sen Viet Tuong Sauce Production Facility (Dien Hong ward); Dalop rice paper from Nhan Hoa Co., Ltd. (Hoai Nhon Nam ward)... have great development opportunities.

Mr. Pham Quoc Bao, Director of Nhan Hoa Co., Ltd. (Hoai Nhon Nam ward), said: Dalop rice paper products are made from carefully selected ingredients, preserving the traditional flavor of the local rice paper making craft. From a product associated with the craft village, Dalop rice paper has gradually standardized its production process, invested in modern machinery and advanced technology, opening up a new direction in the food processing industry.

"Currently, Dalop M4 sesame rice paper has achieved OCOP 5-star certification and has been recognized as a typical national rural industrial product, ready to participate more deeply in the modern distribution chain and aim for the export market," Mr. Bao emphasized.

The availability of raw materials creates significant room for development.

Gia Lai has now developed a diverse crop structure with many large-scale key products such as coffee (107,408 hectares, yielding approximately 333,256 tons); passion fruit (5,650 hectares, yielding approximately 213,150 tons); rubber (85,800 hectares, yielding 84,470 tons of dry latex)...

Coffee and pepper growing areas in Ia Phi commune. Photo: R'PIÊN

The establishment of large-scale, concentrated raw material areas, linked to the formation of processing plants, is a crucial foundation for the strong development of the province's processing industry. The diversity of topography and climate not only creates ecological identity but also provides a basis for developing the processing industry in conjunction with high-tech agriculture , organic farming, and key industrial crops. Based on this, "agricultural-industrial hubs" can be formed, where large-scale agricultural production is directly connected to deep processing, logistics, and consumer markets.

Mr. Duong Minh Duc, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, stated: The industry and trade sector aims for an average industrial growth rate of 13.5-14.5% per year during the 2026-2030 period; striving to achieve an industrial share of approximately 28.5-29% of GRDP by 2030. The focus will be on processing and manufacturing industries; energy industries; green industries; and supporting industries, gradually digitizing production activities.

Gia Lai aims to become the center for processing agricultural and forestry products in the Central and Central Highlands regions, focusing on developing deep processing of key products such as coffee, pepper, rubber, sugarcane, fruits, medicinal herbs, and plantation timber; gradually reducing the export of raw materials, and increasing the processing content and added value.

In addition, the province is focusing on attracting investment into key industrial zones and clusters such as Phu My, Hoai My, Cat Trinh, Binh Nghi, Nam Pleiku, Dak Doa… while forming industrial corridors along strategic transportation routes such as the Pleiku - Quy Nhon expressway, National Highway 19, National Highway 25, National Highway 1 and the Ho Chi Minh Highway.

In 2026, Gia Lai will continue to create favorable conditions for factories currently under construction and those planned to become operational, contributing an additional 5-5.5 percentage points to the industrial production index with 28 key projects totaling VND 26,805 billion. Some typical projects include the Nhon Tan Bio-pellet and Wood Furniture Processing Plant (Quy Nhon Nam ward); the NutiFood Cao Nguyen Dairy Processing Plant - Phase 2 (Pleiku ward); and the expansion of the Greenfeed Animal Feed Plant (An Nhon Nam ward)...

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/cong-nghiep-che-bien-dong-luc-tang-truong-moi-cua-gia-lai-post579981.html