On March 12, at the Conference Center of Binh Phuoc Provincial School of Politics, “EuroCham High Technology Agriculture, Industrial & Commercial Enterprises Connection Forum – Binh Phuoc Province 2024” was held with the participation of nearly 360 domestic and international delegates.
In addition to Binh Phuoc Provincial People’s Committee, the forum was co-chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), and the Vietnam Digital Agriculture Association (VIDA). The forum was also coordinated by Hung Nhon Group, De Heus Group (Netherlands), and Vietnam High-Tech Agriculture Club (DAA).
Attending the forum were: Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of Binh Phuoc Province’s Party Committee; Ms. Huynh Thi Hang, First Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairwoman of Binh Phuoc Provincial People’s Council; Mr. Phung Duc Tien, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Ms. Tran Tue Hien, Chairman of Binh Phuoc Provincial People’s Committee; Representatives of the Government Office and the Central Commission for Information and Education; Mr. Gabor Fluit, Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam and General Director of De Heus Group in Asia; Mr. Vu Manh Hung, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Digital Agriculture Association (VIDA), Chairman and General Director of Hung Nhon Group.
In particular, the forum also witnessed the presence of Mr. Carsten Schittek, Minister Counselor, Head of the Trade Section of the European Union Delegation to Vietnam; Mr. Joseph John Gargadi, Charge d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Vietnam; Mr. Daniel Stork, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City; Mr. Agustaviano Sofjan, Indonesian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City; and 21 diplomatic delegations from embassies, consulates general and business associations of countries such as Saudi Arabia, Australia, Portugal, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Spain.
The forum was attended by more than 100 leaders of leading EuroCham businesses such as Heineken, De Heus, Big Dutchman, Phileo by Lesaffre, Kilimo, Logwin Air & Ocean, Stolz Asia, The Fruit Republic, Biodevas, Lallemand, Hung Nhon Aust Export, and businesses from the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AusCham).
In her opening remarks at the forum, Chairwoman of Binh Phuoc Provincial People’s Committee Tran Tue Hien said that the purpose of the ” EuroCham High Technology Agriculture, Industrial & Commercial Enterprises Connection Forum – Binh Phuoc Province 2024″ was for Binh Phuoc to introduce and promote its image, potential, and preferential policies, helping domestic and foreign investors access key projects, especially those in industrial parks and economic zones, and agricultural projects applying high technology, thereby calling on domestic and foreign businesses and investors, including reputable EuroCham businesses with financial and technological potential, to invest in Binh Phuoc.
Sharing information with investors, Chairwoman Tran Tue Hien said that over 80% of the province’s administrative procedures are handled by the closed-cycle process and connected online via the National Public Service Portal. When carrying out administrative procedures, investors only need to contact online or directly through the one-door public service of the Provincial Public Administrative Service Center to receive instructions on procedures, receive documents, and have results returned on-site. The time to resolve investment administrative procedures at all stages has been shortened to only two-thirds of the time specified by Government regulations.
According to Ms. Tran Tue Hien, the province is also paying attention to digital transformation in businesses, with the goal of supporting people and businesses to apply digital platforms to improve business and management efficiency, enhance capacity and competitiveness, and create new value for businesses. The province’s PCI is improving significantly, while digital transformation and information technology application in investment support and business support are carried out effectively.
“In addition, with the “Four-Good Foundation” which are “good infrastructure, good human resources, good policies and good public services”, Binh Phuoc is determined to meet all service needs, satisfying the needs of investors coming to the province, including EuroCham businesses,” said Hien.
Speaking at the forum, Mr. Gabor Fluit, Chairman of EuroCham Vietnam and General Director of De Heus Asia Group, expressed joy over the presence of so many influential guests from the business community as well as representatives of state agencies. “I can really feel the energy and enthusiasm radiating from everyone. EuroCham is honored to be here with all of you, as innovators and change-makers to together shape the future of Binh Phuoc’s economy,” Mr. Fluit said.
According to Mr. Fluit, Binh Phuoc has a strategic location in the Southern Key Economic Region, serving as an important gateway connecting Vietnam, Cambodia and the region. With abundant land resources, Binh Phuoc offers attractive investment opportunities in agricultural development such as high-value crops, aquaculture, food processing, and large-scale production. The favorable business climate further confirms that Binh Phuoc is an ideal locality for large-scale renewable energy projects, in accordance with the Power Development Plan VIII and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). In the future, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) provides a positive development step for Binh Phuoc. With nearly 99% of tariffs falling over the next decade, Binh Phuoc is well positioned to benefit from expanded access to the EU market with 500 million consumers.
Representing the co-organizer, Mr. Vu Manh Hung, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Digital Agriculture Association (VIDA), Chairman and General Director of Hung Nhon Group, said that in recent years, Binh Phuoc’s investment promotion programs have captured great attention from FDI businesses, especially in the fields of agricultural product export processing, supporting industries, and renewable energy. However, in terms of potentials and benefits, Binh Phuoc’s attractiveness to FDI is not comparable to that of other provinces and cities in the Southern Key Economic Region such as Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Ba Ria – Vung Tau.
“During our working meetings with leaders of Binh Phuoc Province, we realized that the province strongly wants to make the most of its potentials and advantages. However, to fully tap the potentials and advantages, it is certainly necessary to hold meetings, dialogues and investment activities to have a common voice and look in the same direction. That is the reason why VIDA became the connecting unit between leaders of Binh Phuoc Province and EuroCham to organize today’s forum,” Mr. Vu Manh Hung said.
Also according to Mr. Hung, the forum was aimed at contributing to strengthening the dialogue between government agencies, policy makers, localities, organizations, associations, experts and businesses, local and international alike, on key issues in the digital agricultural development strategy. In particular, through forums, domestic and foreign experts propose solutions to help Vietnam ensure the feasibility of financial resources and synchronize policies to develop a sustainable green economy, with an aim to achieve the Net Zero goal by 2050.
Speaking at the forum, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien congratulated Binh Phuoc Province on its outstanding performance in 2023. “In recent years, Binh Phuoc Province has made great achievements and had a new comprehensive development step in industry, agriculture and services with an gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth rate of 8.34%, above the 8% target, and ranked first in the southeastern region and ranked 11th in the country. In particular, agricultural production is stable, gradually developing towards high-tech, large-scale application,” Mr. Tien said.
Mr. Tien also highly valued the meaning and purpose of the forum. According to him, EuroCham businesses not only have technological strengths but also financial capacity and potential consumer markets for Vietnam’s agricultural sector. Therefore, the presence of European businesses not only helps Binh Phuoc move agriculture towards sustainability but also makes a more positive contribution to the economy and society.
At the forum, there were many presentations on issues related to FDI investment, green development, digital agriculture… by experts from the European Union (EU), Binh Phuoc Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, EuroCham, AusCham, De Heus Vietnam, Hung Nhon, and Big Dutchman Vietnam.
The forum received enthusiastic support and sponsorship from domestic and international businesses. Specifically, Diamond sponsors were Hung Nhon, De Heus, Becamex Binh Phuoc Industrial Park and Minh Hung Sikico Industrial Park. Gold sponsors included CPV Food Company Limited, Big Dutchman Vietnam, Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank), and Minh Anh Construction Company.
