Strengthening biofuel cooperation with Brazil’s leading enterprise

On the morning of July 6 (local time), in Rio de Janeiro, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with the leadership of FS, a pioneering company in Brazil specializing in ethanol production from corn. FS is also one of the leading low-carbon biofuel producers in Latin America.

Daniel Lopes, Vice President of FS, praised Vietnam’s green growth strategy and stated that FS is committed to promoting sustainable development through the application of modern technology and smart farming solutions. The company’s core products include ethanol, biomass power, and by-products for the livestock industry. FS expressed a desire to establish a strategic partnership with Vietnam in the biofuel sector.

The Prime Minister welcomed FS's cooperation proposal and emphasized that developing sustainable energy solutions—particularly in transportation—is a key pillar in Vietnam’s national energy transition strategy. This effort aligns with the country’s commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, as pledged at COP26.

He encouraged FS to expand its business operations and investment in Vietnam, and to enhance cooperation with domestic companies. He proposed collaboration with the Vietnam National Energy and Industry Group to facilitate technology transfer and integrate Vietnamese firms into the global value chain. The goal is also to make ethanol-based E10 fuel more accessible and affordable in Vietnam. He further suggested that the two sides explore the possibility of investing in ethanol production either in Vietnam or in Brazil.

The Prime Minister also welcomed the proposal to establish a bilateral cooperation mechanism between the Vietnamese and Brazilian governments on biofuels and assigned relevant ministries to study and push for its implementation.

JBS ready to make Vietnam a regional production and distribution hub

On the same day, the Prime Minister also met with the leadership of JBS, one of the world's largest food processing corporations, headquartered in Brazil and operating in 24 countries and territories.

Fábio Maia de Oliveira, a representative of JBS, shared that the company has been present in Vietnam since 2021 and currently runs two subsidiaries involved in frozen food distribution and leather manufacturing. JBS expressed interest in expanding its investment in Vietnam in the near future.

The Prime Minister welcomed JBS’s operational results and acknowledged its successful export of the first batch of beef to Vietnam. He highlighted the strong momentum in Vietnam–Brazil relations, especially since the two countries upgraded their ties to a Strategic Partnership in November 2024.

He affirmed that Vietnam is ready to serve as a gateway for JBS to access ASEAN and Northeast Asian markets. He called on JBS to enhance collaboration with local enterprises, support product promotion, and integrate Vietnamese agricultural goods into JBS’s global distribution system, capitalizing on Vietnam’s 17 signed free trade agreements.

The JBS leadership expressed their willingness to establish Vietnam as a regional and global hub for the production and distribution of agricultural and food products.

The Prime Minister also requested that JBS support negotiations for a free trade agreement between Vietnam and Brazil, as well as with the MERCOSUR bloc. He assured that the Vietnamese government would create favorable conditions for JBS to invest and operate efficiently and sustainably in the country.

In response, Fábio Maia de Oliveira confirmed that JBS is ready to make Vietnam a key center in its global supply network.

Granja Fujikura seeks to expand high-tech agriculture in Vietnam

Earlier, the Prime Minister met with the leadership of Granja Fujikura, a high-tech agriculture company originally from Japan, currently operating in Brazil.

Wiliam Shuhei Fujikura, Director of the company, shared that since 2025, Fujikura Quail Genetics has been surveying the Vietnamese market and is now cooperating with Trong Khoi Company to develop a quail farming model in Vietnam and other Asian countries. The company hopes the Vietnamese government, ministries, and local authorities will support the expansion of high-tech agricultural cooperation.

The Prime Minister congratulated Granja Fujikura on its success and praised its partnership with Trong Khoi, one of Vietnam’s leading quail egg exporters. He reaffirmed the government’s support for such initiatives, underpinned by the strong bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Brazil.

He encouraged the company to further collaborate with local partners to introduce its products to Vietnamese consumers. The Prime Minister also highlighted Vietnam’s goal of reaching $100 billion in agricultural, forestry, and fishery exports in the coming years. He affirmed the government’s commitment to resolving bottlenecks in policy, human resources, and land to facilitate sustainable development for both domestic and foreign enterprises.

Noting Vietnam’s population of over 100 million and its strategic location in ASEAN, the Prime Minister urged Granja Fujikura to promote technology transfer, market development, and product branding in cooperation with Vietnamese partners. He assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Ministry of Finance, and other relevant agencies to support the company in implementing effective investment projects in Vietnam.

On the afternoon of July 5 in Rio de Janeiro, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also met with Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture Carlos Fávaro and jointly witnessed the export of the first container of Brazilian beef to Vietnam.

The Prime Minister noted that Vietnam and Brazil have significant potential to develop agricultural cooperation, with large markets and complementary strengths. He proposed that the two countries’ agriculture ministries establish a joint working group to promote market access for key agricultural products, form partnerships in coffee production and consumption, and strengthen cooperation on food security, including Vietnam’s potential supply of rice to Brazil.

Minister Carlos Fávaro recognized Vietnam’s agricultural strengths and expressed a desire to strengthen business connections and technology transfer in agricultural production and processing. Both sides agreed to implement high-level commitments and make agriculture a cornerstone of the Vietnam–Brazil strategic partnership.