Kaluga province (Russia) meets with the Vietnam Association of Women Entrepreneurs and TH Group

TH Group - A pioneering force in Russian investments

Led by Governor Shapsha Vladislav Valerievich, a high-ranking delegation from the Kaluga provincial government visited Vietnam to explore investment prospects, particularly in the realms of tourism and culture. This visit follows significant strides in agricultural cooperation, with the notable highlight being TH Group's investment project in the Russian Federation.

The delegation's visit aligns with the upcoming 30th anniversary of the signing of the treaty on the basic principles of friendly relations between Vietnam and the Russian Federation (1994-2024).

During Governor Shapsha Vladislav Valerievich's visit to Vietnam, meetings are scheduled with President Vo Van Thuong, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, and the co-chairman of the Russia-Vietnam Intergovernmental Committee on Cooperation. Discussions will encompass trade, economics, science, technology, and engagements with leaders from the Hanoi People's Committee.

On the initial day of the business trip, Governor Shapsha Vladislav Valerievich and the Kaluga Province delegation, alongside the leadership of the Russian Federation Embassy in Vietnam, convened with the leadership of the Vietnam Association of Women Entrepreneurs (VAWE). The meeting, presided over by Labor Hero Thai Huong, the Chairman of VAWE, emphasized the significant role of VAWE in fostering connections.

Labor Hero Thai Huong, also the founder and Chairman of the Strategic Council of TH Group, heads a Vietnamese enterprise undertaking the most substantial agricultural investment project in the Russian Federation, particularly in the Kaluga region.

During the meeting with leaders of the VAWE, Governor Shapsha Vladislav Valerievich openly expressed his admiration for Labor Hero Thai Huong, referring to her as "a very special, extremely wonderful woman." He acknowledged the formidable task of establishing an agricultural enterprise in one's own country, let alone expanding globally, and commended Thai Huong for TH Group's remarkable achievements. Governor Shapsha Vladislav Valerievich highlighted TH Group's various ongoing projects in Kaluga Province, including a fully operational cluster of high-tech dairy farms and a cluster of farms and milk processing plants progressing according to schedule. He recognized TH Group's developmental strides in Kaluga Province as a valuable learning experience in fostering cooperation between the two nations.

In her capacity as the head of the VAWE, Labor Hero Thai Huong played an active role in facilitating direct discussions between representatives of Vietnamese businesses and Governor Shapsha Vladislav Valerievich, as well as other leaders of Kaluga Province.

Sharing the driving force behind implementing Vietnam's largest agricultural investment project in the Russian Federation, Ms. Thai Huong affirmed, "Throughout the journey of my TH business, there were moments that I consider serendipitous. I visited Russia during the embargo period, and there was a shortage of milk. Recognizing this as a golden business opportunity, I realized I could produce clean, fresh milk here. Another motivating factor for immediate investment was a sense of gratitude. During times of conflict, the Russian people spared no effort in supporting the Vietnamese. This gratitude fueled my decision to step foot into Russia."

Ms. Thai Huong emphasized that, based on TH Group's practical experience, Vietnamese businesses venturing into Russia gain access to two crucial resources: financial support and state policy backing. In terms of policy, the Russian Federation consistently upholds its commitments to investors.

"Since my arrival in Russia until now, the policies have remained steadfast. The government has established support teams to meticulously oversee each project, facilitating their progress through various phases. Importantly, these commitments are unwavering," shared Ms. Thai Huong.

Addressing financial support, Vietnamese businesses can benefit from up to 80% loan assistance from Russian banks. Additionally, the logistics infrastructure is highly convenient, allowing goods to be easily transported from Russia to markets worldwide, particularly advantageous for regions such as Vietnam, China, and the Asia Pacific.

Creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese businesses

Vice President of VAWE, Ms. Nguyen Thi Bao Hien, affirmed during the event, "The Veterans Business Association, and the VAWE, urgently seek markets like Kaluga Province to export goods, expand their industries, and discover more investment opportunities. The discussions held today will undoubtedly be widely disseminated within Vietnam's business community."

Ms. Le Thi Thu Thuy, Vice President of VinGroup and Global President of VinFast, expressed her gratitude to Ms. Thai Huong for sharing investment experiences in large markets and highlighting the industry. She noted that Vinfast's environmentally friendly electric car production is beneficial to the community, and they view Russia as an important market.

"We, like younger siblings, look towards Russia. Following today's event, within our capacity, we will conduct research to implement appropriate activities," shared Ms. Le Thi Thu Thuy.

Governor Shapsha Vladislav Valerievich, attentive to the perspectives shared by representatives of Vietnamese businesses, assessed, "The potential for cooperation between Vietnam and Kaluga Province is exceedingly vast, and we consistently strive to identify solutions and directions most suitable for our mutual advancement. In 2017, the trade turnover between Kaluga Province and Vietnam was a modest 30 million USD. However, by 2021, this figure had surged to an impressive 315 million USD. With this surge, Vietnam now holds the 5th position among the largest trading partners of Kaluga Province."

Governor Shapsha Vladislav Valerievich highlighted the province's commitment to addressing challenges faced by investors. "We always lend an ear to investors and endeavor to resolve the issues they encounter. With available land resources and ongoing infrastructure development, we aim to provide a conducive environment for businesses to shape their investment models."

"We promote collaboration not only with large corporations but also express keen interest in small businesses. Vietnamese entrepreneurs in the Russian Federation, for instance, significantly contribute to the garment sector. Vietnamese-made garments in Russia are well-received for their high quality, gaining popularity among the people. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnamese garment factories in the Russian Federation pivoted to producing medical masks and protective clothing. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to them for this valuable contribution," expressed Governor Shapsha Vladislav Valerievich.