HCM CITY — Foreign-invested companies in the southern region are speeding up investments and preparing for opportunities as Việt Nam is poised to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Tran-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

“North America and Japan have been our key export markets in recent years, accounting for 40 per cent of export turnover. We have a huge opportunity in textiles and garments after Việt Nam joins the CPTPP,” Nguyễn Chí Thành, deputy general director of the French group Scavi JSC, was quoted as saying to Đầu Tư (Việt Nam Investment Review) newspaper.

The company has proposed building the Phong Điền garment and textile supporting industrial zone in the central province of Thừa Thiên Huế to attract investment. It opened its fourth factory earlier this year.

“We have met with 30 domestic and foreign material suppliers to discuss incentives and how to attract investment to the supporting industrial zone,” he said. “This move will help Scavi achieve its goal of becoming one of the world’s top enterprises in lingerie, swimwear and sportswear by 2022, with annual revenue of US$200 million.”

Another giant in the industry, South Korean-based Hyosung Corporation, is preparing to expand its operations in Việt Nam.

The corporation has already invested $1.5 billion in the southern province of Đồng Nai and plans to expand its fibre manufacturing projects.

“We would like to invest more at the Đồng Nai-based Nhơn Trạch 5 Industrial Zone but local authorities have rejected us because there is no more available land,” said managing director Yoo Sun Hyung.

Another South Korea-based Hi Knit Company Limited was recently granted an investment licence at the Nhơn Trạch 6A Industrial Zone with total registered capital of $40 million.

The company will produce textiles and nonwoven fabric for export.

Industries to benefit from CPTPP

The textile and garment industry will not be the only sector to benefit when Việt Nam officially joins the CPTPP, as aquaculture, timber manufacturing, logistics, real estate and agriculture also see bright prospects.

Feed manufacturers Cargill and CJ have been opening factories in the southern region.

The largest Cargill factory, with total capital of $28 million, is located on a land area of 48,000sq.m. It will produce 240,000 tonnes of hog and poultry feed annually.

Meanwhile, numerous FDI enterprises in other sectors are completing investment procedures to start projects.

For example, in Đồng Nai Province, Taiwanese group Kenda has extended its production with an additional $56 million for its factory in Giang Điền Industrial Zone to increase its tyre manufacturing capacity for domestic and export markets.

The southern province of Bình Dương recently granted a licence to Taiwan-based Việt Nam Waytex International Company Limited for its $25 million furniture manufacturing project in Bàu Bàng Industrial Zone.

In mid-November, Japanese firm Yuwa Việt Nam Company Limited officially launched its second factory on a land area of 2.2ha in this province’s VSIP II.

Its first factory, also in Bình Dương, was built with $4 million in 2009 and produces moulded electronic plastic components.

“More and more Japanese enterprises will continue investing in the southern region to take advantage of CPTPP,” said Kadowaki Keiichi, the president of the Japanese Business Association in HCM City. — VNS