Thailand’s WHA pledges investment expansion in Vietnam

WHA Group, Thailand's leading industrial real estate developer, has committed to expanding investment in Vietnam’s Hung Yen, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces.

Commencing Phu Cu Industrial Park in Hung Yen soon

The Phu Cu Industrial Park project in Hung Yen is part of the northern province’s industrial development and urbanization strategy. Currently, WHA is the enterprise approved by local authorities to conduct surveys and prepare planning documents for the project.

At a working session with WHA Group’s representatives last Friday, provincial Party chief Nguyen Huu Nghia affirmed that the project would be an important highlight in promoting cooperation between Hung Yen province and Thai enterprises.

He requested local authorities to coordinate closely with WHA to complete planning work and investment procedures so that the project can commence as soon as possible and urgently carry out site clearance and hand over land to the investor. WHA Group was urged to mobilize resources to begin construction immediately after site handover.

A representative of WHA emphasized that Hung Yen is a strategic location where the group seeks to expand investment in the coming period. The group also expressed its readiness to accompany the province in developing industrial park infrastructure and attracting suitable secondary investors in line with the orientation toward green, ecological, and smart industrial development.

Pham Quang Ngoc, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, expressed his expectation that WHA would expand investment in its areas of strength, in alignment with the province’s planning and sustainable development orientation, while also leveraging its role as a connector to attract secondary investors and industrial infrastructure developers to Hung Yen.

Ngoc suggested the Thai group soon discuss and concretize cooperation contents with provincial agencies. He ordered local authorities to proactively coordinate, maintain regular information exchange, promptly address difficulties and obstacles, and create favorable conditions for WHA Group’s investment activities.

Investing in ecological industrial zone model in Thanh Hoa

To date, WHA Group has been implementing two industrial park projects in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa. These include WHA Industrial Zone 1, covering 178.51 hectares, with a total investment of VND1.32 trillion ($50.89 million). The project has completed site clearance and obtained construction permits.

WHA Industrial Zone 2 covers 174.9 hectares, with a total investment of VND1.45 trillion ($55.9 million), and is scheduled to break ground in the first quarter of 2026.

At a working session on the same day with a WHA delegation led by CEO Jareeporn Jarukornsakul, Party chief of Thanh Hoa province Nguyen Doan Anh said Thanh Hoa expects these projects to create numerous jobs, form an ecosystem of high-quality manufacturing enterprises, and make meaningful contributions to local socio-economic development.

He expressed his hope that WHA would expand cooperation, leverage its strengths, and introduce Thai and international investors and enterprises to study, survey, and invest in the province.

The CEO of WHA stated that the group would call on investors with whom it has cooperated to consider investing in Thanh Hoa through a smart ecological industrial park model which features international-standard infrastructure systems, stable and reliable utility services, and environmentally friendly operations.

Demand for tens of thousands of workers in Nghe An

Also on Friday, Jareeporn Jarukornsakul held a working session with leaders of the central province of Nghe An. The CEO noted that 2025 marked significant progress in investment activities in Vietnam, particularly in Nghe An. "Following tariff-related difficulties imposed by the U.S. in 2025, foreign direct investment flows showed strong signs of recovery entering 2026."

At the beginning of 2026, WHA successfully signed a land lease contract with its first customer in its industrial zone in Nghe An, Jarukornsakul said.

The group recognized that labor demand will soon become a critical issue requiring thorough preparation. Each factory may require between 20,000 and 30,000 workers, meaning that total labor demand for these factories in the coming year could reach 40,000 to 50,000 workers, the CEO added.

Chairman of the Nghe An provincial People’s Committee Vo Trong Hai praised WHA’s investment activities in the province and reaffirmed that Nghe An’s consistent policy is to create the most favorable conditions possible for FDI enterprises.

The province commits to accelerating administrative reforms, particularly shortening licensing timelines and investment approval procedures in line with directions from the central government, in order to support enterprises in implementing projects as quickly as possible, he noted.

Hai emphasized that Nghe An possesses an abundant labor force. The province is currently focusing on strong investment in universities, vocational training centers, and vocational schools to improve workforce skills.

The goal is to be ready to supply skilled employees to corporations immediately upon graduation, he noted, adding the province recognizes that to attract Nghe An natives currently working abroad or in other provinces to return home, enterprises need to offer appropriate salary and welfare policies.

WHA is a leading industrial real estate developer, integrated logistics provider, and utility solutions company in Thailand, offering comprehensive real estate and infrastructure services for industrial development.

With nearly 40 years of experience in developing and operating industrial parks in Thailand, it is currently investing in and operating multiple industrial parks in Vietnam, featuring synchronized infrastructure systems that meet international standards.