HẬU GIANG — Phúc Xuyên Co Ltd has sought an opportunity to build a canned juice processing factory in the southern province of Hậu Giang.

At a meeting with the local authority, company director Đoàn Thế Xuyên said his company was planning to invest VNĐ170 billion (US$7.5 million) to build the factory on an area of 30,000sq.m. The factory would have a maximum designed capacity of producing 10,000 tonnes of canned juice per year, with inputs being fruits from the Mekong Delta provinces, especially pineapples.

Besides serving the local demand, the company expects to export five to 10 containers of canned pineapples, condensed fruits and juices to EU and US markets, Xuyên said.

Nguyễn Hữu Nghĩa, director of the provincial Department of Planning and Investment, said the investors would enjoy preferential policies such as land tax exemption from seven to 11 years, corporate tax exemption for at least two years and import tax exemption for production machinery and equipment.

Xuyên said the Mekong Delta region was the country’s hub of tropical fruits. Hậu Giang particularly had intensive farming areas producing high-value products.

He suggested the province support enterprises in applying science and technology in production and in doing research and development to bring more added value to products.

Nguyễn Văn Đồng, director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the province’s fruit cultivation covered an area of 39,800ha, with the production output reaching 324,470 tonnes.

Of the total area, 2,000ha is reserved for growing pineapples.

Đồng said the pineapple cultivation area in the province, along with other areas in neighbouring provinces, would be enough to supply raw material for Xuyên’s factory. — VNS