On June 17, Mr. Le Minh Ngan, Member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Lai Chau Provincial Party Committee, together with representatives of provincial departments and agencies, held a working session with Mr. David John Whitehead, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mavin Group, to discuss and review the progress of the Group’s proposed investment projects in the province.
Based on the approved planning, Lai Chau Province commits to applying flexible incentive mechanisms and creating the most favorable conditions for Mavin Group to carry out research, survey, and investment activities with the highest efficiency in the province.
Reshaping Livestock Development in Vietnam’s Northwest Region
During the meeting, Mr. David John Whitehead highlighted that Mavin operates an integrated value chain spanning animal feed production, breeding, livestock farming, and food processing, while maintaining a strong commitment to sustainable and environmentally responsible development.
Recognising Lai Chau’s advantages in land resources, climate conditions, and agricultural development orientation, Mavin expressed its desire to strengthen long-term cooperation with the province through investments in high-tech livestock projects. These initiatives are expected to create employment opportunities, improve local incomes, and contribute to regional economic growth.
In 2021, Mavin first proposed the Integrated Livestock Farming, Crop Production and Agricultural Processing Complex in Muong Than Commune, with a registered investment capital of approximately VND 400 billion. The project aimed to establish a modern, biosecure, closed-loop pig farming complex serving both domestic and export markets, while generating jobs and supporting local economic development. However, despite years of preparation, the project has yet to receive investment approval due to issues related to defence land.
Mr. David John Whitehead, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mavin Group, speaks at the working session with Lai Chau Provincial Party Secretary Le Minh Ngan.
Under the latest revised proposal submitted in June 2026, Mavin reaffirmed its commitment to investing in Lai Chau by expanding the proposed project area to 150 hectares, larger than the original 2021 plan. The project includes a feed mill with an annual capacity of 45,000 tonnes, a raw material processing facility capable of handling 200,000 tonnes per year, a high-tech pig farming system producing 90,000 market pigs and housing 5,000 breeding sows annually, an organic fertiliser plant with a capacity of 15,000 tonnes per year, and a timber forest plantation combined with a biological buffer zone covering nearly 57 hectares.
The proposed project area is largely aligned with the revised Lai Chau Provincial Master Plan for 2021–2030, with a vision to 2050, as well as approved land-use planning targets.
Mavin’s leadership also proposed conducting studies for a High-Tech Pig Breeding Centre in Muong Kim Commune. The project would cover approximately 54–55 hectares, accommodating 4,000 breeding sows and producing 60,000 piglets annually. Considered compatible with the province’s livestock development strategy, the project has already undergone preliminary surveys and feasibility assessments in accordance with relevant regulations.
Towards Large-Scale, Modern Livestock Farming
Lai Chau possesses favourable natural conditions for developing cattle, indigenous pig breeds, poultry, and other specialty livestock. Livestock farming has long served as a key source of livelihood for tens of thousands of households in the province’s mountainous areas. However, the sector remains dominated by smallholder production, with approximately 99% of livestock operations operating on a small and fragmented scale rather than through concentrated commercial farms.
This production model presents challenges in disease control, food safety management, and environmental protection. Most farmers continue to rely on traders for product sales, resulting in limited value addition and difficulties in establishing product traceability and branding.
At present, Lai Chau’s livestock density stands at only around 0.2 livestock units per hectare of agricultural land, significantly below its planned capacity. This highlights substantial room for future growth. As climate change continues to intensify, the development of green, biosecure, and low-emission livestock systems has become an increasingly important priority.
Lai Chau Provincial Party Secretary Le Minh Ngan shares the province’s agricultural development strategies with leaders of Mavin Group.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Le Minh Ngan reaffirmed that Lai Chau welcomes and supports investors seeking opportunities in the province.
The province is gradually transitioning from smallholder farming towards concentrated, high-tech livestock production models while encouraging the adoption of circular economy principles within the sector.
He encouraged Mavin to carefully study the province’s livestock development plans and designated farming zones in order to identify suitable investment models, prioritising advanced technologies, biosecurity standards, and environmentally friendly production practices.
Should these projects be successfully implemented, they are expected to become an important catalyst for attracting further investment into high-tech agriculture, accelerating the development of a modern livestock industry, creating additional employment opportunities, and contributing to Lai Chau’s economic growth in the years ahead.
Source: Agriculture and Environment Newspaper