Foreign enterprises "hunt" for agricultural products in the Central Highlands

Many foreign enterprises will come to Dak Lak to purchase agricultural products, opening a positive signal for the agricultural sector in the Central Highlands region.

On December 2, Mr. Nguyen Hai Trieu, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Dak Lak, said that the province is coordinating with the Trade Promotion Agency ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ) to organize a delegation of foreign enterprises to enter Vietnam to trade and purchase goods. These enterprises are mainly looking for agricultural products in the last days of 2025, creating a "golden opportunity" for the agricultural sector in the provinces of Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Lam Dong and Quang Ngai. This not only brings a positive signal for agricultural output but also shows the increasing attractiveness of localities in the regional supply chain.

Chinese enterprises visit and work with enterprises in Dak Lak in August 2025. Photo: Vu Long

Need to promote deep processing of products

Dak Lak province currently has about 700,000 hectares of agricultural land, with many agricultural products that have become strong brands in the international market. Key products include coffee, durian, pepper, rubber, macadamia, honey... all of which are considered to have superior quality compared to many other regions. However, in the past, most of Dak Lak's agricultural products were only sold through traders, lacking sustainable links between growers and international buyers, leading to strong price fluctuations and creating many risks for farmers.

Entering the new phase, domestic farmers and businesses will have to meet specific standards. In particular, partners will have clear requirements on growing area codes, production processes meeting VietGAP/GlobalGAP, transparency in traceability, along with products having to comply with regulations on quarantine and pesticide residues.

Mr. Truong Tuan Anh, Director of Dried Agricultural Products Processing Joint Stock Company No. 1 (Krong Pak Commune, Dak Lak Province) shared that China is still the largest consumer market for Vietnamese agricultural products, including the company's products. However, the billion-people market increasingly demands high product quality, forcing farmers and businesses to upgrade farming processes, invest in processing, preservation and packaging. "We have deeply processed products from durian and coffee, mainly exported to China, South Korea, Taiwan (China) and a small part to the US. Foreign enterprises coming directly to Dak Lak to buy goods at the end of this year will help local agricultural products access a wider and more stable market," said Mr. Tuan Anh.

According to Mr. Le Anh Trung, Chairman of the Dak Lak Durian Association , the appearance of large corporations and distribution enterprises will attract more investment capital into deep processing. “We have proposed that the Provincial People's Committee build deep processing factories in industrial clusters. If the province has more modern processing factories, it will increase the export value of agricultural products, including the durian industry. This is the key to sustainable rural economic development ,” Mr. Trung said.

Great cooperation with Guangxi (China)

The Dak Lak Center for Industrial Promotion and Trade Promotion said that in the near future, the Center will invite foreign business delegations to visit raw material areas as well as agricultural processing factories in the province, such as Coffee 15 Company Limited and Import-Export Company 2/9 (Simexco Dak Lak), along with production facilities in Ea Kao ward... The fact that foreign businesses are coming to learn about the Dak Lak market shows that the Central Highlands is gradually becoming an important agricultural supply center. If contracts are signed, thousands of farming households will benefit from more stable selling prices, thereby requiring higher technical requirements and expanding cultivated areas according to international standards. For Dak Lak, investment capital in warehousing, logistics, processing and preservation technology will increase, along with promoting the development of many other industries such as ancillary services such as transportation, packaging, e-commerce and consulting on growing area certification.

Signing of cooperation agreement between Simexco Dak Lak and Chinese enterprises at the end of November 2025. Photo: Thanh Hao

As a business with coffee and pepper products present in 120 countries around the world, Mr. Thai Anh Tuan, General Director of Simexco Dak Lak, said that foreign businesses coming to Vietnam is a great opportunity for domestic businesses to find stable output sources. Proof of this is that at the end of November 2025, Simexco Dak Lak signed two strategic memoranda of understanding for cooperation with Chongqing Yunzhong Koukou Coffee Trading Co., Ltd. and Guangxi Jiaoxiang Wandao Food Co., Ltd. (China). The parties agreed to focus on developing the supply chain and distribution of deeply processed coffee and pepper products. “The strategic cooperation agreements signed in Guangxi mark an important step in expanding the market, diversifying distribution channels and enhancing the value of Dak Lak coffee and pepper in China. This demonstrates Simexco Dak Lak’s commitment to raising the value chain of Vietnam’s agriculture to international standards and sustainable development ,” Mr. Tuan shared.

According to the Dak Lak Department of Industry and Trade, the department recently mobilized businesses to participate in the Conference of foreign business delegations entering Vietnam to trade and purchase goods in the Central Highlands, scheduled to be held from December 14 to 16, 2025. Currently, there are 7 businesses in the province, 1 business in Australia, 1 foreign business in Vietnam and 11 Chinese businesses registered to participate.

Vu Long

Source: https://congthuong.vn/doanh-nghiep-ngoai-san-nong-san-o-tay-nguyen-432987.html