HCMC – Brazilian food processing giant JBS has expressed its readiness to turn Vietnam into a strategic hub for manufacturing and distributing its agricultural and food products in Asia and beyond.
During his official visit to Brazil, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with executives from leading Brazilian corporations in Rio de Janeiro on July 6 (local time) to promote bilateral cooperation in aviation, biofuel production, agriculture, and food processing, reported the Government news website (baochinhphu.vn).
At a meeting with JBS executives, PM Chinh welcomed the group’s expansion in Vietnam, where it has been present since 2021. JBS currently operates two companies in the country, focusing on frozen food distribution and leather production.
Fábio Maia de Oliveira, a senior executive at JBS, confirmed that the company plans to scale up its investment in Vietnam. He highlighted JBS’s milestone in exporting its first shipment of beef to Vietnam and its ambition to deepen collaboration with local partners.
PM Chinh encouraged the company to take advantage of Vietnam’s growing consumer market of over 100 million people and its expanding middle class. He also suggested that JBS position Vietnam as a gateway to the ASEAN region and Northeast Asian markets such as China.
Vietnam, with 17 free trade agreements covering over 60 global economies, offers favorable conditions for foreign investors, the Vietnamese prime minister noted. He called on JBS to help bring Vietnamese agricultural products into Brazil and its global distribution networks while enhancing cooperation with domestic partners.
He also urged JBS to support Vietnamese firms in market development, technology transfer, and product promotion to strengthen the country’s participation in global supply chains.
PM Chinh emphasized that the Vietnam–Brazil relationship has progressed significantly, particularly since the two countries upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership in November 2024. He added that Vietnam is pushing forward with negotiations for a free trade agreement with Brazil and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), and he called on JBS to back this process to facilitate greater trade flows.
PM Chinh pledged that the Vietnamese Government will support JBS in operating effectively and sustainably in accordance with local laws. He welcomed the company’s commitment to long-term business in Vietnam and emphasized the mutual benefits of a deeper partnership.
In response, Fábio Maia de Oliveira affirmed JBS’s intention to position Vietnam as a regional and global center for its food and agricultural supply chains.
