Within the framework of the investment promotion and business trip to the Kingdom of Belgium from November 15-16, the Long An province delegation led by Mr. Nguyen Van Duoc - Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Long An Provincial People's Council - visited and studied the energy technology model at John Cockerill Group.
At the meeting, the Group's leaders expressed special interest in the Vietnamese market, especially the Mekong Delta region, including Long An province. The Group will focus on developing renewable energy technologies, hydrogen technology, and researching and investing in hydrogen electrolysis projects in Vietnam.
In a strategic move to materialize its investment expansion plan in Vietnam, John Cockerill Group has decided to move its Asia-Pacific regional office from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City.
Long An Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Van Duoc said that Long An currently has a great need to develop clean energy and renewable energy to meet economic growth needs and minimize environmental impacts.
Long An provincial leaders requested the group to study the potential of clean energy, especially biomass electricity, from abundant available raw materials, along with studying the formation and development of hydrogen energy sources, studying technological cooperation with the LNG liquefied gas plant project in Can Giuoc district, especially evaluating the investment opportunity for Vietnam's first electrolysis plant in Long An.
The Secretary of the Long An Provincial Party Committee proposed that right after the working program in Europe, he invite leader John Cockerill to arrange a working session in Long An in December to discuss in detail cooperation plans, specify orientations and conduct field surveys to assess investment potential.
Continuing the working session with the Group, the leaders of Long An province had a survey trip to learn about the small modular reactor (SMR) model. This is an advanced technological solution with a compact size, suitable for providing energy to areas requiring energy stability such as industrial clusters.
Continuing the working schedule in Belgium, the Long An provincial delegation had a series of effective bilateral working sessions with the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium, the Vietnam - Belgium Alliance, and the Vietnam Business Association in Belgium.
The Vietnamese Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium informed that Belgian businesses, which have strengths in the fields of renewable energy, high-tech agriculture, semiconductor industry, healthcare, and logistics, can absolutely find opportunities for long-term cooperation in Long An.
The Ambassador also pledged to act as a bridge to promote connections between Belgian and Long An businesses, and suggested that the province actively promote its potential and have specific and practical plans to attract and welcome European investors to develop in the province. The two business organizations also wish to cooperate and suggest that the province support the provision of information to Belgian business delegations visiting Vietnam in the near future.
John Cockerill is a diversified industrial group, headquartered in Belgium, with a long history of development since 1817. The group operates in areas such as mechanical engineering, renewable energy production, water treatment, defense technology, and automation.
