PM Chinh invites Turkish conglomerate Hayat to expand Vietnam presence

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has suggested that Turkish conglomerate Hayat Holding expand its Vietnam presence with continued investment and cooperation with local partners.

Meeting with Hayat Holding CEO Avni Kigili in the Turkish city of Ankara Wednesday, Chinh spoke highly of the company’s operations in Vietnam and suggested the company further cooperate with Vietnamese partners, and expand export markets for the products the company makes in the country.

Hayat Holding has operations in various industries such as diaper, tissue paper, consumer goods, furniture and logistics. It is the world's fifth largest diaper manufacturer and the largest tissue producer in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Africa.

In Vietnam, Hayat Holding runs factories in the provinces of Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc, with a $250 million plant that was put into operation in Binh Phuoc in March 2022 to produce Molfix-branded diaper.

Chinh, who is on an official two-day (November 29-30) visit to Ankara, also suggested the Turkish company work as a bridge connecting potential investors inside and outside Turkey with Vietnam as also transfer technologies to help Vietnamese partners integrate deeply into regional and global production chains.

For his part, the Hayat executive praised the Vietnamese investment environment with easy procedures and skilled workers. Vietnam hosts one of the company’s most effective operations worldwide; and its exports from Vietnam are estimated at $35 million this year, he said.

He asked the Vietnamese government to do more to fight counterfeit, poor-quality goods, smuggling and trade fraud so that the group’s products can find more favour among Vietnamese consumers.

In response, the PM pledged to strengthen prevention and control of trade fraud to better protect consumers and legitimate producers.

In another meeting the same day with Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Eksi, Chinh welcomed the signing a letter of intent between the Turkish carrier and Vietnam Airlines during his visit.

As Vietnam and Turkey are working on easing visa procedures for travelers from both countries, Chinh suggested both carriers increase cooperation and closely coordinate with each other as well as relevant agencies to boost tourism development in both countries.

Bilal Ekşi expressed his hope that the Turkish carrier is able to expand cooperation in Vietnam not only in passenger transportation but also in cargo transportation and other areas.

The airline plans to increase regular flights between the two countries, he said.

Turkish Airlines is the only airline that operates direct flights between Vietnam and Turkey - Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City and Istanbul.