The Vietnam Construction Materials Company on February 12 kicked off the construction of a cement plant in Van Hoa commune, Tuyen Hoa district in the central province of Quang Binh.  

Total investment for the plant is put at VND 4 trillion. The plant is designed to have a capacity of 2 million tonnes a year in the first phase. Once the second phase is completed, the plant’s capacity will be 4 million tonnes a year. 

Construction is scheduled for 24 months. The operational plant is expected to employ 500 local workers and contribute VND 100 billion to the provincial budget a year. 
 

Coffee corporation targets US$358 million export-import turnover  

The Vietnam Coffee Corporation has set a target of US$358 million worth of exports and imports in 2009. 

Specifically, the export turnover is US$325 million while the import turnover is US$33 million. Total production value is targeted at VND 1.8 trillion. 

This year, the corporation sets to plant 17,500 hectares of coffee. The company’s key products include coffee seeds, instant coffee, roasted coffee and nutritious cereal powder. 

WPP invests in Smart Media  

WPP and Smart Media Joint Stock Company on February 11 held a ceremony in Hanoi to announce an investment co-operation agreement. 

Accordingly, WPP’s ownership of a 20% stake in Smart Media has turned the company into the biggest shareholder of one of the fastest growing communications groups in Vietnam. 

Smart Media, established in February 2008, was founded jointly by key government bodies: Vietnam Posts and Telecommunication Group (VNPT), Vietnam Television (VTV), Vietnam Mobile Telecom Services Co. (VMS), and Vietnam Post Corporation (VNPost) and the privately owned GoldSun. 

The investment by WPP in Smart Media reflects WPP’s commitment to Vietnam and digital Media. The co-operation will help domestic telecommunications and communications companies develop and promote innovative communication services in Vietnam. 

One of the world’s leading marketing communications groups, WPP has long pursued a strategy of investing in faster growing markets. In 2008, GroupM took stakes in three subsidiaries of the DatvietVAC Group Holdings. Other WPP companies operating in Vietnam include Bates141 and Ogilvy. 

My Thanh Nam rice awarded GlobalGAP certificate 

TUV SUB PSB Vietnam Company on February 12 officially granted a GlobalGAP certificate to My Thanh Co-operative and 15 farmers in My Thanh Nam commune, Cai Lay district, Tien Giang province for reaching GlobalGAP standards in rice production and processing.  

This has been the first GlobalGAP certificate for Vietnamese rice producers as well as rice producing countries in South East Asia. 

In the winter-spring 2008-2009 crop, My Thanh Xam expanded the rice areas reaching GlobalGAP standards to 500 hectares. All the rice have been pledged to be bought by ADC company in Ho Chi Minh City at a price 20% higher than the market price. 

Tien Giang authorities said the model to produce rice that meets GlobalGAP standards will be expanded in the whole Cai Lay district and in other districts in the province as well in order to produce high-quality and safe rice and increase profits for local farmers.