Central Vietnam province okays Swiss-invested $126 mln bamboo board factory
Vietnam’s central province of Thanh Hoa has given an in-principle nod for staBoo Thanh Hoa JSC to invest VND3,199 billion ($126 million) in a factory for manufacturing bamboo oriented strand board (bamboo OSB).

Bamboo for processing in Thanh Hoa province, central Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Dan Tri (People's Intellect) newspaper.
The factory, named OSB staBOO Thanh Hoa, is set to cover 26.1 hectares in Ba Thuoc district, including 25.9 hectares in the first phase and another 2.1 hectares in the second phase.
The investor has been asked to complete further administrative procedures in the next 12 months to progress the project, according to a document issued earlier this week by the provincial authorities.
After the land is delivered, the firm has been instructed to complete the factory within 24 months for the first phase and four months for the second phase.
The factory will have an annual capacity of 225,000 cubic meters of chipboard panels and OSB plywood. It will use 1,000-2,000 tons of bamboo daily, and employ 3,000 people.
In January 2024, staBOO Holdings AG, under Swiss firm BARD AG, and Vietnamese partner Sao Thai Duong Investment JSC signed a memorandum of understanding to build the OSB factory in Thanh Hoa. The signing took place on the sidelines of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s attendance at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
- Read More
Thailand, Australia boost ties in transport, logistics
Thailand and Australia are seeking to strengthen cooperation in transport infrastructure and carbon emission reduction in the logistics sector.
Southeast Asia - Mon, February 17, 2025 | 8:20 pm GMT+7
China surpasses US as biggest importer of Vietnamese shrimp
China imported $834 million worth of Vietnamese shrimp last year, surpassing the U.S. to become the largest buyer of this item from Vietnam, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
Economy - Mon, February 17, 2025 | 7:51 pm GMT+7
Malaysia, S Korea resume FTA talks
Malaysia and South Korea are set to hold their seventh round of negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) as they look to expand their trade portfolio and strengthen cooperation, according to the latter's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Southeast Asia - Mon, February 17, 2025 | 5:23 pm GMT+7
Indonesia to launch new sovereign wealth fund this month
Indonesia will launch a new sovereign wealth fund called Danantara this month, with an initial capital of around $20 billion.
Southeast Asia - Mon, February 17, 2025 | 5:19 pm GMT+7
Singapore's Billion Union builds $70 mln fabric factory in Vietnam
Hong Kong-invested Thanh Hoa Billion Union Textile kicked off the construction of a $70 million factory in Vietnam’s central province of Thanh Hoa on Monday.
Industries - Mon, February 17, 2025 | 5:04 pm GMT+7
Vietnam’s construction ministry plans real estate exchanges for improved transparency
The Vietnamese Ministry of Construction is advancing a plan to establish real estate exchanges, similar to the stock market, in a bid to enhance transparency and efficiency in property transactions.
Real Estate - Mon, February 17, 2025 | 4:57 pm GMT+7
Vietnam plans to increase electricity imports from China, Laos by 2030
The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) aims to raise electricity imports from China and Laos by 3,000 MW and 2,500 MW by 2030, over 5 times and nearly 1.6 times higher than those stated in the current Power Development Plan VIII (PDP VIII), respectively.
Energy - Mon, February 17, 2025 | 4:14 pm GMT+7
Vietnam urges Turkish contractor to speed up mega Long Thanh airport's terminal construction
Türkiye-based IC ICTAS, the lead contractor of the passenger terminal within the under-construction Long Thanh International Airport, should speed up the construction of the package, said Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha.
Infrastructure - Mon, February 17, 2025 | 3:27 pm GMT+7
Vietnam tech giant FPT to provide high-quality AI human resources
With the groundbreaking of an inter-level school on Sunday, FPT Corporation is completing its education system from elementary to university levels in the south-central province of Binh Dinh, to provide high-quality human resources, particularly in AI.
Companies - Mon, February 17, 2025 | 11:32 am GMT+7
Japan pneumatics firm SMC to start $330 mln Vietnam expansion from July
SMC Manufacturing Vietnam, under Japanese pneumatic instrument producer SMC, aims to start its $330 million expansion in Vietnam from July.
Industries - Mon, February 17, 2025 | 10:47 am GMT+7
Institutional breakthroughs to provide solid foundation for heightened business confidence: economists
At a meeting of the National Assembly's Economic Committee in early February, the government proposed the 2025 GDP growth be "8% or more", instead of 6.5-7% set last November. The Investor introduces opinions of some leading Vietnamese economists on this proposed target.
Economy - Mon, February 17, 2025 | 8:02 am GMT+7
Vietnam consumer credit enters new growth cycle
After the decrease in consumer capital demand, negative growth, and peaking bad debts in 2023, Vietnam’s consumer financial market is entering a new growth cycle, backed by positive signs from the macroeconomic environment.
Finance - Sun, February 16, 2025 | 3:19 pm GMT+7
Vietnam property investors seek new opportunities in provincial markets
Real estate investors in Vietnam, both individuals and organizations, are shifting their investments from city centers to suburban regions and neighboring provinces where land remains abundant and significant investments are being made in infrastructure, particularly in transportation.
Real Estate - Sun, February 16, 2025 | 2:00 pm GMT+7
Five Vietnam pilgrimage destinations perfect for spiritual seekers: Booking.com
Booking.com, the world's leading digital travel company, has suggested some destinations in Vietnam for those seeking spiritual enrichment and a chance for reflection and connection, including Ba Den mountain and Bai Dinh pagoda.
Travel - Sun, February 16, 2025 | 10:59 am GMT+7
Malaysia takes the lead in data center development
Malaysia is making efforts to align with the global trend towards digitalization, which is driving demand for data centers, cloud computing, blockchain, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Southeast Asia - Sun, February 16, 2025 | 10:57 am GMT+7
WB sees Thai fiscal risks mounting due to spending surge
Thailand’s pursuit of an expansionary fiscal policy strategy to propel growth faces the risk of rising costs for elderly care, investment and the need to keep public debt level to sustainable levels, according to the World Bank.
Southeast Asia - Sun, February 16, 2025 | 10:41 am GMT+7