Vietnam, West Africa seek to boost cooperation in cashew industry
A workshop on potential for investment cooperation in the cashew industry between Vietnam and the West African market took place in Ho Chi Minh City on November 2.
HCM City (VNA) – A workshop on potential for investment cooperation in the cashew industry between Vietnam and the West African market took place in Ho Chi Minh City on November 2.
The event was jointly organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)’s office in HCM City and Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP).
Despite being the world's largest exporter of finished cashew nuts, Vietnam must import about 70% of raw materials for processing. Major suppliers of raw cashew nuts for Vietnam are in West African countries, Cambodia and Indonesia.
According to Director of ARISE IIP in West Africa Jasveer Singh, Africa is facing a lack of jobs for young people and a shortage of food and medicine after the COVID-19 pandemic. The governments of African countries are trying to fix instabilities by improving domestic production capacity.
Some African countries plan to ban exports of raw cashew nuts in order to ensure supplies for domestic production and processing, and this will affect import - export activities of agricultural products.
Processing cashew nuts for export (Photo: VNA)
Nguyen Thi Tuong Vi, head of ARISE IIP’s representative office in Vietnam, said that in many African countries, cashew nut processing ecosystems are being developed synchronously, from warehouses, preliminary processing areas, and deep processing factories.
African countries’ governments have also issued preferential tax policies for investors, she added.
In this context, participants suggested Vietnamese businesses consider setting up offices in West Africa to be proactive in purchasing raw materials for processing.
Vietnamese enterprises can develop factories in West African nations to take advantage of raw materials, cheap labour and preferential investment pไolicies to process cashew products for export, thus increasing their value in the global cashew supply chain, they said./.
The last of the 35 cashew nut containers, the original documents of which were claimed by Vietnamese exporters to be missing because of a suspected scam, have been ultimately released under an Italian court rule.
Vietnam exported over 206,000 tonnes of cashew nuts worth 1.19 billion USD in the first five months of 2022, down 7.81% in volume and 6.81% in value, the Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS) reported.
As cashew exports in the first half of 2022 fell by 9.2% against the same period last year, the Vietnam Cashew Association (VCA) has to adjust down its annual export target to 3.2 billion USD.
The cashew industry should focus on markets in which Vietnam had signed trade deals to take advantage of preferential tariffs and expand exports as inflation had pushed up the prices of raw materials and forced people to tighten spending, according to the Vietnam Cashew Association.
Developed with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Da Nang FTZ is designed to become a leading regional economic centre and a strategic growth pole in Vietnam’s new development landscape.
The Binh Duong Association of Supporting Industries (BASI) is expected to promote the usage of domestically manufactured components while supporting businesses in accessing international markets, strengthening linkages, and promoting deeper integration into global supply chains.
PwC Vietnam forecasts a vibrant M&A market in Vietnam’s healthcare sector in 2025, driven by rising demand for high-quality medical services and a growing middle class. Pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, and specialised medical facilities, particularly in ophthalmology and oncology, are predicted to be key targets for M&A.
The central province of Quang Nam is set to become a hub for the medicinal plant industry, with Ngoc Linh ginseng designated as the core crop, under the Prime Minister's decision issued earlier this year.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
Processing cashew nuts for export (Photo: VNA) 
