HCMC – SunRice Group, Australia’s largest rice producer and distributor, has announced plans to expand investment and raise the annual processing capacity of its rice plant in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap to 120,000 tons.
The plan was disclosed by SunRice Chairman John Bradford during a meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam on May 27.
The expansion comes after SunRice executives attended the “Meet Australia 2026” series in Vietnam, described as the largest-ever trade and investment promotion program between the two countries. As Vietnam seeks to attract higher-quality foreign direct investment, the increase in processing capacity in Dong Thap is expected to help boost the commercial value and international competitiveness of Vietnamese rice.
A key element of SunRice’s long-term investment strategy in the Mekong Delta is its partnership with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) to launch the next phase of a project aimed at strengthening climate-resilient premium rice value chains for smallholder farmers.
The project, jointly funded by the two sides with a total budget of AUD1 million (around US$650,000), aligns with the Vietnamese Government’s program to develop one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation by 2030.
Project funding will focus on improving climate-smart rice farming techniques, enhancing post-harvest efficiency and strengthening product traceability. The SunRice-ACIAR partnership will also prioritize research and development of salt-tolerant rice varieties to help address climate change impacts in the Mekong Delta.
At the same time, the two organizations plan to expand operations at the Center of Excellence located within SunRice’s rice processing facility in Dong Thap. The center serves as a research and technology transfer hub where rice farmers and agriculture students can learn and practice modern cultivation methods.
Beyond agricultural investment, SunRice has also signed a long-term sponsorship agreement with the KOTO Foundation, a Vietnamese social enterprise specializing in hospitality vocational training, as part of its broader commitment to supporting local community development.
