At the 5th Vietnam Development Bridge Forum 2025, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Vo Van Hung announced that the agriculture and environment sector has outlined four strategic pathways to attract foreign direct investment (FDI).
Four strategic pathways
According to Deputy Minister Vo Van Hung, in the new era, the agriculture and environment sector will continue to be a vital pillar with significant potential and space for implementing socio-economic development programs. The sector also offers growing opportunities to attract investments from both domestic and international businesses, particularly FDI. Based on this, four key investment pathways have been mapped out.
First, the sector has set strategic goals and policies to transform the mindset from agricultural production to developing an agricultural economy. It focuses on building a multi-value agricultural economy and promoting comprehensive digital transformation to create higher added value. This is one of the major investment directions for the period up to 2030 and 2050. A prime example is the One Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Program linked to green growth in the Mekong Delta, which has helped reduce approximately 10 million tons of CO₂ emissions annually.
Second, the sector emphasizes the development of agricultural product culture and branding associated with local identities. Authorities support upgrading OCOP (One Commune, One Product) items. Nationwide, there are currently 16,286 OCOP products rated three stars or higher, with 25.8% achieving four stars, 79 products achieving five stars, and hundreds of internationally recognized, export-quality products.
Third, the sector continues to prioritize resource and environmental management. Focus areas include wastewater and solid waste treatment (both domestic and industrial), the application of recycling technologies, environmental restoration, renewable energy development, and the advancement of bioenergy solutions tailored to agriculture. Additionally, the sector invests in projects aimed at restoring natural ecosystems and developing the carbon market.
Finally, the sector is strategically aligned to attract FDI linked to climate action, green growth, and ecological security, particularly in climate change and the global push for emissions reductions.
The agriculture and environment sectors are committed to working closely with investors and FDI enterprises. They aim to enhance implementation by reforming administrative procedures, developing raw material regions, applying advanced technologies, and promoting digital transformation throughout the investment process. Simultaneously, efforts will be made to foster stronger connections among FDI enterprises, domestic businesses, and cooperatives, facilitating the spread of technology, value chains, and sustainable livelihoods.
Therefore, Deputy Minister Vo Van Hung affirmed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is ready to welcome responsible investors and is committed to being a trusted partner in building an ecological, prosperous, and sustainable Vietnam.
Effectively managing 729 active FDI Projects
As of the end of 2024, Vietnam had 729 active FDI projects in the agriculture and environment sectors, with total registered capital of nearly USD 11.89 billion. Of these, 537 projects are in agriculture, 106 in mining, and 86 in water treatment, waste management, and environmental services.
Including supporting industries such as processing, input materials, and trade, total FDI capital in the sector exceeds USD 26 billion, accounting for about 6% of Vietnam’s total FDI inflows.
The FDI sector has created approximately 500,000 direct and indirect jobs in the agricultural sector, contributing to technological innovation, sustainable resource development, farmer training, and the establishment of efficient supply chains. These are considered key drivers that have contributed to the sustainable development of Vietnam’s agricultural sector in recent years. Many projects have delivered strong results both economically and environmentally. Several leading global corporations have chosen Vietnam as a strategic destination, including Nestlé (Switzerland), CP Group (Thailand), De Heus (Netherlands), Cargill (USA), Bayer (Germany), and Zoetis (USA).
According to leader of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, despite many positive outcomes, FDI projects in agriculture and the environment still face certain limitations that must be addressed. Most FDI projects remain small to medium in scale; investment distribution across regions is uneven; and linkages between FDI enterprises, domestic businesses, cooperatives, and farmers are still limited.
Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment emphasizes that alongside steadfastly pursuing strategic directions, effectively managing existing projects and addressing these challenges will be crucial to attracting additional FDI into the agriculture and environment sectors in the coming period.