Brazilian firms eye expanded cooperation, investment in Vietnam

The meetings took place during PM Chinh’s working trip to Brazil for the expanded BRICS summit and bilateral activities from July 4 to 8.

At his working session with JBS, one of the world’s largest food processing corporations, PM Chinh affirmed Vietnam’s readiness to serve as a gateway for JBS into ASEAN and Northeast Asian countries such as China.

He encouraged partnerships with domestic firms to bring JBS products to Vietnamese consumers and, conversely, introduce Vietnamese agricultural products to JBS’s global supply chain.

He said that Vietnam has signed 17 free trade agreements (FTAs) with over 60 major economies, which JBS could leverage.

PM Chinh also called on the company to support Vietnam’s push for an FTA with Brazil and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) to further facilitate trade and investment.

During a meeting with FS, a pioneer in Brazil for corn ethanol production, PM Chinh emphasized Vietnam’s commitment to energy transition and its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

He welcomed FS’s proposal to establish an exchange mechanism between the two governments on biofuels and tasked relevant Vietnamese agencies with exploring the idea.

He encouraged FS to share expertise and strengthen collaboration with Vietnamese companies, including the Vietnam National Industry-Energy Group (PetroVietnam), to transfer technology and help Vietnamese firms in joining the global biofuel value chain and access E10 gasoline at competitive prices.

PM Chinh also suggested PetroVietnam and FS explore joint investment in ethanol production, either in Vietnam or Brazil.

Speaking with Jose Serrador Neto, global vice-president of Embraer, the world’s third-largest commercial aircraft manufacturer, PM Chinh reaffirmed that aviation cooperation is a priority for both countries.

He said that Embraer’s next-generation aircraft could help Vietnamese airlines expand sustainable fleets, improve operational efficiency, and ensure flight safety.

Vietnam, with its growing aviation sector, welcomes deeper cooperation.

PM Chinh encouraged Embraer to pursue discussions with Vietnamese partners such as Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet to further expand cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation.

He also proposed launching a Vietnam-Brazil direct flight route, establishing an aerospace ecosystem in Vietnam, setting up an aircraft maintenance hub, and opening a training center for aviation personnel in Vietnam.

Jose Serrador Neto agreed with PM Chinh’s proposals and said Embraer was eager to forge long-term partnerships.

The Embraer executive also pledged support for advancing Vietnam-Brazil trade negotiations, including a bilateral investment protection agreement and the Vietnam-MERCOSUR FTA.

PM Chinh also met with William Shuhei Fujikura, director of Granja Fujikura, a high-tech agricultural company of Japanese origin now operating in Brazil.

The company is partnering with Vietnam’s Trong Khoi Company to develop quail farming in Vietnam and other Asian markets.

The Fujikura leader expressed interest in expanding cooperation in large-scale, high-tech agriculture in Vietnam and called for greater support from the Vietnamese government.

PM Chinh praised the partnership and reiterated Vietnam’s goal to reach US$100 billion in agri-forestry-fishery exports in the coming years.

The top Vietnamese official pledged continued reforms in institutions, land policy, labor, and investment conditions to support both private and foreign-invested enterprises in the sector.

PM Chinh encouraged Granja Fujikura to deepen cooperation with Vietnamese firms and help bring Vietnamese agricultural products to Brazilian and global markets via its distribution network.