Bel Vietnam, a subsidiary of France’s Bel Group, broke ground on its second cheese factory in southern Binh Duong province on July 8.

The 17-million-USD facility, which will cover 17,000 square metres in the Song Than (Tsunami) 3 Industrial Zone, has an annual capacity of 15,000 tonnes of cheese to supply domestic and regional markets.

At the ground-breaking ceremony, General Director of Bel Vietnam Chafip Hammadi said the project is buoyed by the success of its first factory in Vietnam.

He also underlined the favourable conditions facilitating the project, including skilled labour forces, location and incentives.

Vietnam is the first Asian nation where Bel Group has built its factories, Chafip said, adding that the company plans to build a Centre for Research and Development (R&D) in the province.

Addressing the event, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Thanh Liem said the project is in line with local policies calling for investment in developing industrial zones.

The factory is scheduled to be completed and put into operation in the third quarter of 2016.-VNA