{"id":2287,"date":"2017-02-20T12:14:00","date_gmt":"2017-02-20T05:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nature.org.vn\/en\/?p=2287"},"modified":"2017-03-03T10:57:08","modified_gmt":"2017-03-03T03:57:08","slug":"sustainable-agricultural-investment-of-vietnamese-businesses-in-the-mekong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nature.org.vn\/en\/sustainable-agricultural-investment-of-vietnamese-businesses-in-the-mekong\/","title":{"rendered":"Workshop: Sustainable Agricultural Investment of Vietnamese Businesses in the Mekong Sub-region"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the coming of \u201cDoi moi\u201d (Renovation) in 1986, Vietnam not only opened its market for foreign investors, but also started investment overseas to find new markets and partners. From the first overseas investment in 1989 up through 2015, Vietnam has invested over 20.8 billion USD overseas through 1,049 projects. This number is equivalent to 5% of the total projects, 7% of the registered capital, and 14% of the implementing capital of inbound direct investment to Vietnam in the same period.<\/p>\n

Vietnam\u2019s overseas direct investment (ODI) plays an increasing role in stabilizing and developing the Vietnamese economy. ODI helps compensate for the lack of domestic resources, opens new markets, and strengthens Vietnam\u2019s stance in the countries receiving investment. Following the proposal to promote Vietnam\u2019s overseas investment established in Decision No 236\/QD-TTg (2009), Vietnam has increased investment in the mining, petrol, agro-forestry, water electricity, information technology and urban infrastructure sectors. These are the main sectors of Vietnamese ODI, with each having over 1 billion USD in registered capital.<\/p>\n

Up to early 2016, Vietnam has invested in 68 countries, including the Mekong Sub-region. Particularly, Laos and Cambodia are the two nations that are most popular among Vietnamese investors. Preferential procedures and policies to encourage investment and foreign economic relations in the Vietnam-Lao-Cambodia border area are stipulated in the Prime Minister\u2019s Decision No 482\/Q?-TTg (2010). In addition to similarities in natural, economic and social conditions, the three countries share a common comparative advantage in the sector of agro-forestry investment. Agro-forestry is the second largest sector in Vietnam\u2019s overseas investment structure, and it ranks third in Laos\u2019 and Cambodia\u2019s foreign direct investment (FDI) and domestic direct investment (DDI) receipt structure (2011-2015).<\/p>\n

Alongside poverty reduction accomplishments and improvements in infrastructure, Vietnam\u2019s overseas investment in agro-forestry holds risks due to the differences in culture,\u00a0laws and environment. These differences can lead to conflicts which can affect the project implementation as well as the image of Vietnamese investors in the region.<\/p>\n

Acknowledging the environmental and social risks of overseas agriculture investment, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, People and Nature Reconciliation and Oxfam in Vietnam have conducted research to rapidly assess the reality of agricultural investment in Laos and Cambodia. It aims to identify the problem and mobilize the Pioneer Enterprise Group to initiate development of Voluntary Guidelines to mitigate environmental and social risks for Vietnamese enterprises investing in the agricultural sector in the Mekong sub-region.<\/p>\n

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Photo: PanNature<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This workshop on \u201cSustainable Agricultural Investment of Vietnamese Businesses in the Mekong Sub-region\u201d is organised based on this research and the draft Voluntary Guidelines for Enterprises. The organisers hope that the workshop would be a forum for enterprises, government agencies, and civil society organisations to exchange experience and solutions to finalize the Voluntary Guidelines and contribute to Vietnam\u2019s overseas investment policy.<\/p>\n

Objectives:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n