Dong Nai: A destination of sustainable values

In the ongoing wave of global integration, Dong Nai has emerged as one of the most dynamic growth hubs in Vietnam. Once an agriculture-based province, it has transformed into a leading industrial, service, and logistics center in the Southern region. This transformation has been fueled by a strong business community, where both foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises and domestic firms contribute to a shared goal of sustainable development.

Olam Vietnam’s production line.

Two engines driving economic growth

Currently, Singapore is Vietnam’s second-largest foreign investor and has left a notable footprint in Dong Nai.

Located in Bien Hoa 2 Industrial Park, Olam Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Ofi Vietnam) is a wholly Singapore-invested enterprise. After more than 20 years of operation, Ofi has built the world’s largest cashew processing plant, handling 150 tons of cashews per day and supplying products to over 16,000 customers worldwide.

Moreover, Olam has pioneered digital transformation and applied artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize its processes and improve product quality, all in pursuit of green development.

Deputy General Director Gaurav Patil of Olam Vietnam affirmed: “Dong Nai has a strategic location, favorable infrastructure, and a supportive government. These are the reasons we chose to invest here, and that choice has proven to be the right one.”

Another Singaporean enterprise, RV-OPV Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a member of the RV Group, is steadily asserting its position in the pharmaceutical sector. In 2024, RV-OPV achieved a 59% revenue growth and began exporting various products globally, especially after earning the prestigious EU-GMP certification from Europe. The company is currently investing in an injectable and oncology drug production line in Dong Nai, with plans to increase its monthly capacity to 100 million units.

Chief Operating Officer Animesh Tyagi of RV-OPV said: “We see Dong Nai as a strategic development center in Vietnam. The province offers many advantages, such as robust infrastructure, well-planned industrial zones, proximity to ports and airports, and a business-friendly administrative environment. That’s why RV-OPV has chosen Dong Nai as a long-term investment base within our global expansion strategy.”

With a total investment of nearly US$73 million, RV-OPV is not only taking Vietnamese pharmaceutical brands to the global stage but also contributing significantly to Dong Nai’s shift toward high-tech industry in the near future.

Liquid medicine production line at RV-OPV Pharmaceutical Co.

While FDI enterprises bring in capital and advanced technologies, domestic companies are showcasing their resilience, ambition, and innovation spirit.

Chinh Nam Construction Design JSC, a homegrown Dong Nai enterprise, has successfully built an integrated ecosystem within the construction industry. Embracing a flexible and sustainable growth strategy, Chairman Tran Quang Huan shared: “Our core values are Trust – Intelligence – Heart – Integrity – Progress. These are not only principles in corporate governance but also serve as guiding standards for every individual in the organization. We believe that professionalism and integrity are the keys to long-term business sustainability in any environment.”

Employees of Chinh Nam Construction Design JSC at work.

A co-evolving ecosystem – the key to sustainability

Dong Nai’s remarkable growth in recent years is the result of multiple factors, with the business community, both domestic and international, playing a pivotal role. FDI enterprises, backed by strong financial capacity, modern technologies, and global vision, continue to drive advances in manufacturing, exports, employment, and technology transfer.

Behind the impressive growth figures of both foreign and local enterprises in Dong Nai lies a consistent institutional reform process and coordinated actions from the provincial government. In recent years, the province has proactively streamlined administrative procedures and implemented a “one-stop mechanism” for investment licensing, construction, and environmental approvals. This has significantly shortened project implementation timelines for investors such as Olam Vietnam and RV-OPV.

A key element has been the tax incentives, infrastructure support, and land access policies within industrial zones. These policies have been concretized through frameworks like Resolution 50-NQ/TW, which outlines a national direction for attracting new-generation FDI, alongside localized preferential measures tailored to specific sectors.

Dong Nai has also prioritized the early resolution of challenges related to land, environment, and planning, historically major bottlenecks for large-scale projects. For example, the province has actively supported Olam in expanding its cashew processing facility and assisted RV-OPV in securing the complex EU-GMP certification, which required close coordination across various levels and departments.

This proactive, enterprise-centered approach to dialogue and problem-solving has built solid investor confidence. The investment environment is no longer just about legal frameworks and physical infrastructure, it is also about the government’s accountability, responsiveness, and willingness to listen, all of which FDI firms highly value when choosing Dong Nai as a long-term partner.

So far, Dong Nai has attracted more than 2,100 FDI projects with a total capital of nearly US$41 billion. Singapore alone accounts for over 110 projects worth more than US$4 billion, ranking fifth in the number of projects and fourth in total investment in the province. Mr. Pang Te Cheng, Consul General of Singapore in HCM City, noted: “Dong Nai possesses many strategic advantages for investment. Singaporean businesses view this province as their second home and are committed to long-term collaboration with the local community.”

Alongside Singapore, Japan is also a long-term strategic investor in Dong Nai, with hundreds of projects in key sectors such as supporting industries, precision engineering, electronics, and logistics.

Recognizing the province’s potential, Chairman Kume Kunihide of the Japanese Business Association in HCM City, emphasized: “Dong Nai is one of Vietnam’s most attractive investment destinations thanks to its favorable location, well-developed industrial infrastructure, and stable policy environment. Many Japanese firms have chosen Dong Nai to establish their factories and production centers due to its logistics advantages and skilled workforce. The local authorities are receptive and committed to administrative reforms, giving investors strong peace of mind.”

Beyond export and employment contributions, Japanese enterprises also play an active role in technology transfer, hi-quality workforce training, and developing local supply chains—key factors that enhance Vietnam’s manufacturing capabilities overall, and Dong Nai’s in particular.

Speaking on the contributions of the business community, Chairman Vo Tan Duc of Dong Nai provincial People’s Committee affirmed: “The cooperation between FDI and domestic enterprises is creating a dynamic and sustainable economic ecosystem. The provincial government is committed to maintaining a transparent and efficient investment environment to support all economic sectors in contributing to provincial and national growth.”

Following administrative reorganization, Dong Nai now boasts 45 operational industrial zones and tens of thousands of hectares zoned for industrial and urban development. Its role as a “super-industrial province” has helped Dong Nai maintain its leadership in the Southeastern region’s industrial landscape, while also showing strong potential to share the role of a logistics center with HCM City in the near future.

Today, Dong Nai stands as a vivid testament to an economy harmonizing internal strength with external resources, global technology with Vietnamese innovation. With shared commitment from both government and business, this land is steadily progressing toward becoming a national hub for production, services, and innovation.

By H. Vuong/ Translated by M.Nguyet - H. Trang