Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (second row, second left) and his Swedish counterpart Stefan Lofven (second row, third left) witnessed the launch of NutiFood Sweden AB milk factory in Stockholm on May 27, 2019. Photo: Da Trang / Tuoi Tre

The Vietnam Nutrition Food Company (NutiFood) contributed 50 percent of the investment and Swedish Backahill Company and Skånemejerier Ekonomisk Förening – a cooperative and one of Sweden's three largest producers of dairy products – covered 25 percent each, in order to set up the venture pursuant to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked last September.

The opening of the joint venture, NutiFood Sweden AB, took place at the Vietnam-Sweden Business Forum in Stockholm and was witnessed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who is on an official visit to Sweden at the invitation of Prime Minister Stefan Lofven.

NutiFood Sweden AB is intended to bring Vietnamese dairy and organic nutrition products closer to European and other international markets.

In its first phase of nearly US$20 million in investment, NutiFood Sweden AB is expected to produce 15,000 metric tons per year, including 5,000 tons of baby formula and 10,000 tons of powdered milk for children.

The milk factory will focus on producing fresh, sterilized organic milk and premium canned organic milk in its second phase.

In addition, some new products from NutiFood Sweden AB are set for launch in Vietnam’s market in the third quarter of this year.

Speaking at Monday’s business forum, Vu Tien Loc, president of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), praised NutiFood’s project in Sweden.

The VCCI executive hoped that there will be more cooperation between the two countries’ enterprises, like this joint venture, in the future.

Nutifood, founded in 2000 and based in Ho Chi Minh City, manufactures nutritional dairy food products.

Backahill is a corporation owned by billionaire Eric Paulson specializing in ownership, management and development of real estate projects in Sweden.

Skånemejerier Ekonomisk Förening is a Swedish cooperative and one of Sweden's three largest dairies including 350 producers, which provide more than 400,000 tons of milk annually.

VNF ( TTO )