Golden Hope Nha Be was the latest meal in KIDO Group’s M&A bonanza in the cooking oil segment, Photo: Le Toan The Vietnamese cooking oil market is proving more challenging than several foreign investors had thought before taking the plunge, with intense competition and lower profits to go around. This makes foreign and domestic companies alike more accommodating of KIDO Group’s aggressive mergers and acquisition (M&A) strategy that aims to secure it the leading position in the market by securing new capacities. KIDO Group (KDC) has wrapped up the purchase of 51 per cent stake in Golden Hope Nha Be which is a 51-49 joint venture company between Sime Darby Plantation from Malaysia and Vocarimex (a KIDO subsidiary). After the purchase, KIDO increased its holding in Golden Hope to 100 per cent and appointed three members of its personnel to the leadership of Golden Hope Nha Be for the positions of chairman (cum legal representative), chief executive officer, and … [Read more...] about KIDO offensive to fill vacuum
Green feed company
ADB offers solutions for green finance in Vietnam
ADB offers solutions for green finance in VietnamBy Thanh Thom Solar panels on the top of the headquarters of a power company in the central coastal province of Binh Dinh – PHOTO: VNA HCMC – Considering the major barriers to financing renewable energy (RE) projects in Vietnam, researchers at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have recommended the Government establish more conducive conditions for private investment and strengthen the domestic funding environment through a functional financial market. Vietnam is a potentially rich country with abundant sources of RE, such as wind power, solar power and biomass, which remain substantially untapped, the bank’s researchers stated in their working paper, titled, “Green Finance in Vietnam: Barriers and Solutions,” released on November 12. Despite the advantage of finding funding sources for RE projects, they noted that many hindrances still exist. The low-regulated price of electricity makes it difficult … [Read more...] about ADB offers solutions for green finance in Vietnam
$7 million food processing plant opened in Dong Nai province
The plant in the area of 6 hectare in Trung Hoa commune in Trang Bom District is equipped with two pig and poultry slaughter production lines and one food processing line. Pig slaughter production line with capacities of 100 pig per hour is imported from German while poultry slaughter line with capacities of 2,000 an hour is imported from Denmark. The pig slaughter line can kill 250,000-300,000 pigs annually to provide 19,000 tons of pork to markets while poultry line can slaughter 6-9 million chicken a year to provide 10,000-13,000 tons of chicken. Additionally, the plant also makes lean pork paste, sausage, jam, and bacon to meet various taste of consumers. By TIEN MINH - Translated by UYEN PHUONG Tags: food processing plant opened in Dong Nai province Green Feed Company Dong Nai Food Industrial Corporation ( Dofico) … [Read more...] about $7 million food processing plant opened in Dong Nai province
Solar rooftop a major driver of green growth
Rooftop solar power installations, be they on private homes or industrial buildings, are on the rise in Vietnam “Solar power in Vietnam has become hotter than ever,” said Nguyen Quang Minh, deputy chairman of the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam (ERAV). Minh said ERAV has taken steps to shape a policy for both small roof-top solar power installations with a net-metering mechanism in households and for large roof-top installations at industrial zones. The boom started when the Vietnamese government’s Decree No.11/2017/QD-TTg on mechanisms for encouraging the development of solar power in Vietnam was released a year ago. Heating up the market The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) recently released impressive figures indicating that the total output of solar power projects approved to be added to the Power Development Plan VII is quite large. The ministry approved more than 70 new projects to be put into operation before June 2019, with the total … [Read more...] about Solar rooftop a major driver of green growth
Founder of Tam Khoe fresh food brand: keen on green agriculture
Pham Cong Chinh, the founder of Tam Khoe Promoting the aquaponic model Pham Cong Chinh has just flown to Singapore, where he met with a business partner. The two sides are about to sign a cooperation agreement. After more than three years of operations, his company has found a financial investor with an investment value of nearly VND50 billion ($2.2 million). All of Chinh’s business decisions usually come after careful consideration. Sometimes, potential financial investors set profit margins beyond their capacity, forcing project leaders to choose whether to continue or refuse. “I did not find investors, they found me. During the process, I had to refuse many offers,” Chinh said. After a period of studying and experimenting with three production methods—aquaponics, hydroponics, and organics—Chinh chose to use the first, an integrated system that combines growing vegetables and raising fish based on natural production principles. Elaborating on his … [Read more...] about Founder of Tam Khoe fresh food brand: keen on green agriculture
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 28/3
Fate of Ban Phuc Nickel remains murky The fate of Ban Phuc Nickel mine invested by Ban Phuc Nickel Mines Limited Liability Company (BPNM) remains uncertain. A representative of the Son La Department of Industry and Trade told VIR that the mine’s operation has been suspended since October last year. To date, the department has yet to receive any specific plans to resume the mine’s operation from the investor. Previously, in October 2017, BPNM officially decided to suspend the operation of Ban Phuc Nickel mine until September 30, 2018 due to the company’s massive losses. In 2007, Asian Mineral Resources Limited (AMR), a global mining group listed on the bourse in Toronto, Canada, was granted the licence to exploit and process ores in the Ban Phuc nickel ore mine, which has a reserve of more than 200,000 tonnes of nickel and 18,000 tonnes of copper. According to the initial plan, AMR will co-operate with domestic enterprise Son La Mechanical Engineering JSC to establish … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 28/3
Lotte Mart among 100 Best Places to Work in Việt Nam, again
Companies receive awards for the 100 Best Places to Work in Việt Nam in 2017 at a ceremony held in HCM City on March 22. Lotte Mart has once again made it to the list of best employers in Việt Nam. In the "100 Best Places to Work in Việt Nam in 2017" released by Anphabe in HCM City on March 22, LOTTE Mart beat competition from 600 enterprises in 25 different sectors to achieve 56th rank, 10 places up from 2016. This also meant it retained its place in the Top 5 Employer Brands in the retail/wholesale/trading industry. This is the third year in a row that LOTTE Mart has made it to this prestigious ranking, also climbing every year. The annual Việt Nam Best Places to Work Survey measures the brand health of employers, and is done under the strict supervision of leading research firms. Others making the cut include reputed companies like Unilever, KPMG, Samsung, FWD Insurance Vietnam, VietJet Air, Chubb Life, Green Feed, L'oreal and others. This year’s … [Read more...] about Lotte Mart among 100 Best Places to Work in Việt Nam, again
Red Cross sets up Foodbank Việt Nam to feed indigents
HCM CITY — A charity organisation called Foodbank Việt Nam was launched on Saturday to distribute food to deprived people and reduce food wastage. Foodbank is a programme by the Việt Nam Council of the Red Cross in collaboration with the Youth Social Welfare Centre, C.P. Việt Nam Livestock Corporation, and DSF Việt Nam Co.Ltd. It operates along the lines of food banks around the world, soliciting donation of food from companies and organisations and handing over whatever it gets to needy people. To start with, Foodbank Việt Nam is providing free food to 10 social welfare centres and shelters in HCM City. It will soon expand throughout the country. It also plans to set up a chain of standard food stalls which will sell to poor and disadvantaged people at low prices. There will be activities to educate people about not wasting food. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, hunger is still one of the most urgent development challenges … [Read more...] about Red Cross sets up Foodbank Việt Nam to feed indigents
Experts decry Vietnam’s risky coal compulsions
With Vietnam planning to signigicantly increase its number of coal plants over the next decade, potentially posing great risks to the environment, international experts have advised the country to work on a cleaner path forward. Coal-fuelled power plants are scheduled to account for a greater portion of the local energy mixLast week, John Kerry came to Hanoi to attend an international conference on green energy and sustainable economic growth for Vietnam. The former US Secretary of State now acts as a senior energy expert, working with Vietnam’s government on an alternative to its coal plan. The aim is an alternative that could provide the same amount of electricity, but use hydroelectric dams and solar panels instead of fossil fuels.“It is a scheme that would help save Vietnam billions of dollars, prevent pollution-related deaths, and keep greenhouse gases (GHGs) out of the atmosphere,” Kerry said.Under Vietnam’s revised Power Development Plan, the ratio … [Read more...] about Experts decry Vietnam’s risky coal compulsions
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 5/1
Social housing: Loan interest rate maintained at 5% The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) has decided to keep preferential loan interest rate unchanged at 5 per cent for purchase, rent or hire of social housing projects in 2018.The decision took effect from the beginning of this year, replacing Decision No 2544/QD-NHNN, dated December 30, 2016, on interest rate for loans applicable in 2017 for social housing projects.The interest rates will be applied for house buyers who have already sought loans from the VND30 trillion (US$1.32 billion) housing stimulus package launched in 2013 as the minimum repayment term is 15 years, and from the Viet Nam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP).The VND30 trillion (US$1.32 billion) housing stimulus package aimed primarily at social policy beneficiaries and estate developers of such projects. Of which, VND21 trillion, accounting for 70 per cent of the package’s total has been given to home buyers of projects. The remaining 30 per cent … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 5/1