Emmen, which is located in the province of Drenthe and has a population of more than 100,000, is an important industrial hub in the north of the Netherlands. With almost 8,000 active businesses operating primary operations in High-Tech Systems & Materials, Chemicals, Logistics, and High-Tech Agro-Food and Horticulture, the city has an outstanding industrial infrastructure covering more than 1,000 hectares of land. Emmen is a key logistical hub that links the Randstad region (The Netherlands) with Northern Germany, Scandinavia, and the Baltic nations. It is ideally situated with easy access via the A37 motorway and the E233 transport corridor. This large-scale industrial ecosystem has successfully attracted global conglomerates such as DSM, and notably the world's largest aramid production facility operated by the Teijin Aramid group, testifying to the region's robust manufacturing and innovation capabilities.
Former Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Bui Minh Thanh presents a diplomatic gift to congratulate Ms. Raissa Marteaux (center), Consul General of the Netherlands to Ho Chi Minh City. - Photo: Vietnam News Agency
With a total capital investment of more than USD 8.2 billion, the Netherlands is the largest EU investor in Ho Chi Minh City, making it the nation's leader in developing cooperative connections with that country. The extremely successful operations of global companies like Heineken, De Heus, FrieslandCampina, Royal HaskoningDHV, and BESI, which actively support the local supply chain and economic growth, serve as excellent examples of this success. On this basis, Emmen has shared operational models for eco-industrial parks and green chemical technology solutions, which serve as benchmark models to be used in urban planning practices, and Ho Chi Minh City has established favorable conditions for Dutch businesses to access its high-potential market. This strategic interaction facilitates opportunities for businesses from both sides to jointly enhance their competitiveness in the global supply chain.
In order to take advantage of the new opportunities presented by Ho Chi Minh City's increased sustainable development space, both parties have set priorities for attracting high-quality investment flows and forming strategic alliances around four main areas:
1. Green Chemical Industry and New Materials: Sharing experiences in green chemistry and advanced materials development, leveraging the technological strengths of major conglomerates in Emmen to enhance the value-added output of manufacturing sectors in Ho Chi Minh City.
2. Logistics and Smart Ports: Collaborating on research to optimize supply chains based on Emmen's management experiences in gateway logistics corridors, connecting with seaport infrastructure and logistics services in Ho Chi Minh City (highlighted by the joint research cooperation project among UEH, the City of Emmen, and NHL Stenden University).
3. High-Tech Agriculture and Food: Exchanging technical cultivation solutions, post-harvest technologies, and sustainable agricultural value chains, in line with the development goals of modern urban agriculture.
4. Sustainable Industrial Park Ecosystem Development: Adopting experiences in planning and operating modern industrial parks, such as Bargermeer or Businesspark A37, looking toward constructing low-emission and circular industrial zones.