Construction of an environmentally-friendly cashew-nut processing factory began in the southern province of Binh Phuoc on Nov. 25 - the first of its kind in Vietnam to date.

The 100 billion VND project (roughly 5 million USD) is also the first in Vietnam to solely use domestically-designed equipment and technology.

The factory is scheduled to be complete within the next three years and will be capable of processing 50,000 tonnes of products, including cashew oil, each year.

In addition to this project, the Dong Phu-based Ha My Company Ltd. has entered into a joint-venture with the Qua Solution Company of Japan to build a yogurt factory which is expected to roll out its first batch of products by 2012./.