Why the Mekong Delta Has Not Grown New Large Companies in Two Years

A VCCI Mekong Delta representative explained that while the 30 firms are indeed leaders in their respective industries, the regional economic ecosystem has not helped them grow from small to medium‑size and then to large enterprises. The lack of supportive mechanisms limits the chance for new large companies to emerge.
Ho Quoc Luc, board chairman of Sao Ta Food JSC, pointed out three bottlenecks that must be tackled together: inadequate infrastructure and high operating costs; limited access to capital, technology and management capabilities; and the absence of targeted support for value‑chain leaders. He also noted that large coastal lands stay idle because there are no mechanisms to combine small holdings into investment projects. Consolidating these lands could create farms for processors and keep local workers in the region.
Vu Ngoc Dinh, board chairman of Techpal JSC, said the expiry of renewable‑energy incentive policies forced wind and solar firms to pause new projects. He added that industrial parks are now saturated and logistics constraints make the Delta less attractive to investors.
Together, these obstacles explain why the Mekong Delta has not added any new large companies in two years. Removing the bottlenecks will be essential if the region wants to turn its strong agricultural base into a hub for bigger, more competitive businesses.