Attracting investment: A driving force for economic growth

With its central location in the Mekong Delta, increasingly improved transport infrastructure and open investment attraction policies, Can Tho City is becoming an attractive destination for many investors. Newly built and expanded processing plants and corporate headquarters have created a driving force for economic growth, shifting the labor structure and improving the local competitiveness.

WestFood Hau Giang Agricultural and Food Processing Factory is built according to European standards.

"Holding back" many large enterprises

WestFood Hau Giang Agricultural Products Processing Factory was inaugurated on September 26, 2025, at Hau River Industrial Park - Phase 1, Chau Thanh Commune, Can Tho City, one of the works and projects inaugurated to welcome the 1st Congress of Can Tho City Party Committee, term 2025-2030. The factory has an area of ​​7 hectares, a total investment of more than 666 billion VND, a capacity of 30,000 tons of finished products/year, built according to European standards. The factory is equipped with modern production lines such as European standard IQF quick freezing system; 3-layer conveyor connection system, automatic fruit peeling and cutting machine system, automatic canned fruit and cup fruit production system; cold storage system, cool storage with a capacity of 3000 MT (equivalent to a capacity of 3000 tons). The total number of employees is more than 700 officers and employees.

WestFood Hau Giang Agricultural Products Processing Factory is a member of the Western Food Processing Export Joint Stock Company (WestFood), a brand that has been established and developed for more than 20 years. WestFood has achieved many international certificates such as FDA, IFS, KOSHER, BRC, HALAL, FSSC, FSMA. The unit has also reached demanding markets such as the EU, USA, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, China. Current main products include canned fruit, IQF frozen fruit, bagged fruit, dried fruit, juice and fresh fruit...

Currently, WestFood has developed its own raw material area with 150ha of King MD2 pineapple. WestFood's vision is to become one of the leading agricultural processing companies in Vietnam, a brand ambassador of tropical fruits and vegetables in the international market. The company is committed to always striving to enhance the value of Vietnamese agricultural products, creating the most effective solutions, providing consumers with fresh, quality fruit and vegetable products.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors and General Director of the Western Food Processing Export Joint Stock Company, commented: The merger of Can Tho City, Hau Giang Province, and Soc Trang Province into the new Can Tho City with stronger development space and momentum, brings the business community an exciting and optimistic atmosphere in a more attractive investment environment.

“The new Can Tho city has consolidated its strength from infrastructure, transportation, urban areas; from agriculture to processing industry and logistics, which will attract many businesses to invest here, at the same time attracting Can Tho workers to return to their hometowns, as well as workers from other regions. In particular, the city leaders are very attentive, listen to opinions and support to remove difficulties for businesses. This will certainly bring a competitive advantage to Can Tho in the future, attracting more businesses to the city,” Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet shared.

As for Tien Thinh Group Joint Stock Company (established in December 2014), it specializes in processing and exporting fruit juice products and dried fruits such as passion fruit, dragon fruit, soursop... with a capacity of 15,000 tons/year. The company's products have been exported to major markets such as America, Europe, Australia and Asia... Realizing that logistics plays a key role in increasing the value of agricultural products but export services are still limited compared to the potential, Hanh Nguyen Logistics Joint Stock Company was established in 2019 to provide "Solutions for developing Vietnamese agricultural products" according to the model "One destination - multi-service". In November 2024, Hanh Nguyen Logistics Joint Stock Company put into operation an irradiation plant with an investment capital of about 700 billion VND, a capacity of 1,000 tons/day and night, helping to quickly irradiate fresh fruits, processed fruits, agricultural and aquatic products for export.

Mr. Pham Tien Hoai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tien Thinh Group Joint Stock Company, Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of Hanh Nguyen Logistics Joint Stock Company, shared: “We are gradually building a more expanded business ecosystem. The improvement of the investment environment of Can Tho City in recent times has helped businesses take advantage of business opportunities and expand the market…”.

Creating an attractive investment environment

Regarding foreign direct investment (FDI), Can Tho City currently has 121 valid projects, with a total registered capital of 3.99 billion USD (43 projects in industrial parks; 78 projects outside industrial parks). Regarding domestic investment attraction (outside industrial parks), there are currently more than 600 valid projects. Mr. Ha Vu Son, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Can Tho City, shared: The current industrial production value is about 340,000 billion VND. In the next term (2025-2030), the industrial ratio must increase by 6% in the GRDP structure, which is also about 20 billion USD. The city is planning 10 industrial parks and 37 industrial clusters to develop industry, serving the city's economic development.

The city is entering a new development phase with many potentials and opportunities after the merger. The city is urgently reviewing and adjusting plans, ensuring consistency, synchronization and maximizing the potential and advantages of the new city. Focusing on accelerating the progress of key projects, developing industrial zones and clusters, attracting investment, building modern logistics centers, linked to seaports and airports. The city also pays special attention to perfecting mechanisms and policies to promptly clear and remove bottlenecks and bottlenecks. Promoting administrative reform, improving the investment environment in the direction of openness, transparency, convenience, safety and friendliness. The City People's Committee is committed to always accompanying the business community, listening and promptly resolving difficulties and problems.

Can Tho City has only about 22,000 operating enterprises, an average of about 5-6 enterprises/1,000 people and the city's enterprises contribute about 74% of the city's GRDP. Recently, the Central Government has issued two very important resolutions for the whole country: Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW on private economic development and Resolution 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation. The private economy in the city is very large, increasing by an average of 5-6% annually, enterprises with 50 billion VND or more account for nearly 4%. Many private enterprises have grown strongly, affirming their domestic brands and reaching out to the world market.

Article and photos: MONG TOAN

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/thu-hut-dau-tu-dong-luc-thuc-day-tang-truong-kinh-te-a191472.html