Unilever to continue investing in Vietnam

Unilever CEO Alan Jope, who is currently visiting Ho Chi Minh City, said the company has two factories in Vietnam and sells most of its products locally. He does not see Vietnam as a low-cost production base for exports. When it comes to sustainability, he said the easiest way to do that is to reduce energy consumption by investing in new machinery and lighting systems.

Qiaopu said that although Unilever faced difficulties in operating in many places, its business in Vietnam was doing well. Since entering China in 1995, Unilever has quickly become a consumer goods giant, with products including Lifebuoy soap, OMO laundry detergent and Sunsilk shampoo. It is estimated that around 35 million Unilever products are used in Vietnam every day.

Unilever has factories in Ho Chi Minh City and the northern province of Bac Ninh, distribution centers in Bac Ninh, the central city of Da Nang and the southern province of Binh Duong, and employs 1,400 people.

In Southeast Asia, Vietnam and Indonesia are Unilever's most attractive markets, with large populations and well-managed economies, Qiaopu said. As Vietnam's per capita consumption of consumer goods remains low, there is plenty of room for growth. It is expected that the sales volume in the Vietnamese market will double in the next 5 to 10 years. This can be achieved through good branding, good business and good impact on society.