Dong Nai welcomes “wave” of investment in agricultural processing

Although an industrial province, Dong Nai has paid close attention to agricultural investment. With advantages in geographical location and strong connectivity to major consumer markets, the province has, from an early stage, attracted numerous corporations and enterprises to invest in agriculture, particularly in agricultural processing.

Chicken meat processed for export to Japan at Koyu & Unitek Co., Ltd. (Long Binh ward). Photo: Binh Nguyen

Following the administrative merger, with its extensive agricultural land and position as the country’s livestock hub, Dong Nai remains a prime location for attracting investment in crop production, livestock farming, and agricultural processing. The “One Commune, One Product” (OCOP) program has further encouraged investment and created startup opportunities for many enterprises and cooperatives in processing, particularly the province’s key local products.

Top-class in drawing investment into livestock production

From an early stage, Dong Nai has attracted numerous corporations and enterprises to invest in agriculture and rural development through closed-loop chains covering production, processing, and distribution. The province is home to many well-known brands, including C.P. Vietnam Corporation, Japfa, CJ, Emivest, Masan, Koyu & Unitek, Nestlé Vietnam, Cargill, Hoa Phat, De Heus, and GC Food. In the livestock feed sector alone, 63 enterprises are operating in the province, supplying approximately 5 million tons of feed annually. Many factories apply world-class feed production technologies, serving not only the domestic market but also boosting exports.

For years, Dong Nai has focused on creating favorable conditions through mechanisms and policies aimed at attracting investors—from basic processing and preservation to high-value, refined processing. The province particularly encourages investment in technologically advanced agricultural processing industries that offer strong regional and international competitiveness. In particular, the province is developing the Long Giao Industrial Cluster (Cam My commune) and the Phu Tuc Industrial Cluster (Dinh Quan commune), with a priority given to enterprises investing in high-value and refined agricultural processing. These projects aim to establish integrated value chains, enhance added value, and ensure stable market access for agricultural products.

Dong Nai province is also a key destination that attracts major investors in the processing of livestock products for both the domestic market and export. Notably, Koyu & Unitek Co., Ltd., based in Long Binh ward, is a pioneer in developing a fully end-to-end livestock production chain, from farming to slaughtering and processing chicken meat for export to the Japanese market. Meanwhile, CPV Food Co., Ltd. (a subsidiary of C.P. Vietnam Corporation), located in Chon Thanh ward, has recently reached a milestone by exporting 10,000 tons of chicken meat to Japan.

Tran Nhon Hieu, General Director of Koyu & Unitek Co., Ltd., said that: the company currently slaughters and processes around one million chickens per month. Among these, processed products account for about 20–25 percent of total output and are mainly exported, equivalent to approximately 300–350 tons per month, while the remainder is supplied to the domestic market. The company has continued to diversify its product range, with around 40 processed chicken products currently supplied to export markets. In addition to Japan, the company plans to expand exports of chicken products to Hong Kong and European countries. To support this expansion, Koyu & Unitek is implementing plans to build additional slaughtering and processing facilities in Dong Nai, further scaling up its production capacity.

Following the administrative merger, the new Dong Nai Province has even greater advantages and continues to maintain its position as the nation’s livestock hub. The province ranks among the country’s leaders in pig numbers, with nearly 4.2 million head, and has around 36.5 million poultry. It also has approximately 169,000 cattle and buffalo, more than 3.64 million waterfowl, and around 3,000 swiftlet farming facilities. By 2030, Dong Nai aims for 90 percent of livestock and poultry to be slaughtered at centralized industrial facilities, while processed meat products are expected to account for 30 percent of total meat output.

A new wave of investment in agricultural processing

Following the administrative merger, the province’s total agricultural land area has exceeded 1 million hectares, with a diverse ecosystem and many crops ranking among the largest in the country, including cashew with over 170,000 hectares, rubber with more than 280,000 hectares, bananas and durian at around 20,000 hectares each, and pepper covering about 22,000 hectares. Many localities across the province have formed concentrated production areas and specialized crop zones, meeting investors’ demand for raw materials for agricultural processing.

Over the years, Dong Nai has consistently prioritized the development of favorable mechanisms and policies to attract investment across the agricultural processing chain, from preliminary handling and preservation to refined, high-value processing. The province places particular emphasis on drawing investment into agricultural processing sectors equipped with modern technology and facilities, aiming for competitiveness at both regional and global levels.

Notably, Dong Nai has attracted numerous corporations and enterprises to invest in the processing of key industrial crops, including coffee, rubber, and cashew. Many facilities specialize in deep processing, generating significant added value. Leading processors such as Vinacafe Bien Hoa, Nestlé Vietnam, and Tin Nghia Corporation’s instant coffee plant rank among the country’s top producers in terms of scale and output, supplying both the domestic market and export destinations.

With more than 170,000 hectares under cashew cultivation, Dong Nai has the largest cashew-growing area in the country. Vietnam’s annual cashew exports range from 3 to 4 million tons, with a total export value exceeding 4 billion USD. Of this, Dong Nai accounts for approximately 50 percent of the nation’s total export volume and value.

Nguyen Hoang Dat, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Cashew Association, noted that the province is currently home to more than 1,400 cashew-processing enterprises. Cashew products from Dong Nai are diverse and meet export standards, with many having been granted geographical indication status and establishing a strong presence in international markets. Following the administrative merger, Dong Nai has greater opportunities to elevate its role as Vietnam’s cashew capital, advancing both output and quality, primarily by increasing the proportion of processed cashew exports.

The province also benefits from favorable soil conditions, a skilled farming workforce, and a range of supportive mechanisms and policies aimed at attracting investment in seed production.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Dong Nai currently has three agricultural seed research units, 16 crop seed production facilities, and 402 crop seed trading establishments. Seed management has been given close attention. In crop seeds alone, the province supplies around 11,000 tons to the market each year.

Nguyen Dinh Than, Production Director of Trang Viet Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. in Xuan Duong commune, said that the company produces a diverse range of seed crops, including bitter melon, pumpkin, cucumber, winter melon, and watermelon. These seeds are supplied not only to the domestic market but also exported to numerous countries worldwide. The company partners with farmers who have available land, providing seeds, agricultural inputs, technical guidance, and guaranteed product offtake at prices that ensure stable profits. With market demand for seed crops continuing to grow, the company is expanding cooperation with farmers in various localities to scale up seed production areas.

In addition, the effective implementation of the OCOP program has provided solid support for attracting investment in agricultural processing. As of November 2025, the province had 496 OCOP products from 323 entities, including 367 three-star products, 112 four-star products, and 17 five-star products.

Ca Cao Trong Duc Co., Ltd., based in Phu Hoa commune, has been a pioneer in successfully implementing a large-scale cocoa farming project, which is linked with investment in deep processing facilities. To date, the company has developed more than 1,000 hectares of large-scale cocoa cultivation. In addition to exporting raw cocoa beans, the company produces a range of value-added products, including chocolate and cocoa powder, which are exported to demanding international markets. The company currently has two products recognized with the national five-star OCOP rating.

Dang Tuong Khanh, Chairman of the Members’ Council of Ca Cao Trong Duc Co., Ltd., shared that: over more than 20 years of developing the large-scale cocoa farming project linked with processing, the company’s success has been strongly supported by government policies, particularly the province’s tailored support mechanisms. These practical policies have provided significant momentum for both enterprises and farmers in building raw material zones and investing in deep processing.

By Binh Nguyen – Translated by Thu Hien, Minho