Foreign capital flows into clean food.

Thirteen Canadian pork exporters recently visited Vietnam to explore trade opportunities in more detail.

Amid concerns among Vietnamese consumers about unsafe food, many foreign businesses see this as a promising investment and business opportunity. Recently, 13 Canadian pork exporters visited Vietnam to explore trade opportunities in more detail.

“Canadian pork exports to Vietnam increased by an impressive 230% in 2015. This demonstrates the enormous market potential for Canadian pork products and also proves that Vietnamese consumers place their trust in the quality and safety of these products,” said David Devine, the Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam.

More and more businesses are coming to Vietnam to explore trade opportunities with partners in the food sector.

David Lennarz, Vice President of Registrar Corp (a US-based firm specializing in consulting and assisting businesses in complying with US Food and Drug Administration regulations), stated that many American companies want to invest in Vietnam's food industry through clean food production projects.

"Many American businesses are increasingly moving production out of China—where manufacturing and labor costs are rising sharply—to southern markets, including Vietnam, which has enormous potential for food production," said Lennarz.

In fact, Registrar Corp has been operating in Vietnam since 2005. Currently, the company has partnered with approximately 400 Vietnamese businesses. These businesses are also collaborating with American companies to produce high-quality food products in Vietnam, which are consumed domestically and exported to the United States.

In a similar development, according to some sources, despite failing to acquire a 14% strategic stake in Vissan Company, CJ Cheil Jedang (South Korea) announced plans to invest an additional $500 million in Vietnam through direct investment or the acquisition of several food companies.

This additional investment will bring the company's total investment to $900 million, aiming to make Vietnam CJ Cheil Jedang's second-largest overseas production hub (after China). Currently, CJ Cheil Jedang has one farm, four processing plants, and one retail outlet in Vietnam.

Furthermore, Techna Group (France) – specializing in the production and supply of animal and plant nutrients – is also considering Vietnam as a strategic market for business expansion in ASEAN. The group established Techna Nutrition Vietnam in 2012 and plans to build a factory here in 2018. Currently, all Techna products in Vietnam are imported directly from France.

In its business strategy, Techna argues that the use of banned substances in livestock farming is reducing the competitiveness of Vietnam's poultry and pig farming industries. Therefore, the Group is also promoting the supply of safe products, helping farmers improve the quality of their livestock and reduce their dependence on antibiotics.

Discussing the wave of foreign businesses investing in the clean food sector in Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Vu Loc - CEO of the Western Region Export Food Processing Joint Stock Company (Can Tho) - said that while Vietnam is flooded with low-quality food, many foreign investors and businesses have been seizing this opportunity to invest in clean food chain projects in Vietnam.

According to Mr. Loc, Vietnam has a population of over 93 million people, with a growing demand for safe food and improving incomes. "This strengthens the confidence of foreign businesses that they will be very successful in the Vietnamese market," Mr. Loc said.

According to VNExpress