Belgium-based brewer Anheuser - Busch InBev (AB InBev) is considering investing nearly US$7 million to expand production at two breweries in Viet Nam.

Ken Hitchcock, AB InBev’s zone vice president for the Asia Pacific South region, announced the news at a meeting with the People’s Committee of Binh Duong yesterday.

The expansion would strengthen the company’s presence in the province. In May 2015, Anheuser - Busch InBev opened a brewery specialising in making Budweiser and Beck’s brands in Binh Duong Province. The brewery has a capacity of 100 million liters per year and is also the first AB InBev brewery in Southeast Asia.

Hitchcock emphasised that in order to develop sustainably, the company would priortise environmental protection by reducing water use and focusing on green energy.

The company aims for all AB InBev breweries to use clean energy by 2025. AB InBev plans to replace equipment for two breweries in Viet Nam to meet the target, Ken added.

Tran Thanh Liem, chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, said InBev’s goal of increasing environmental responsibility while expanding manufacturing is inline with the province’s development plans.

Currently, the province is focused on developing its industrial and service sectors, with an emphasis on seeking investment in hi-tech and environmentally friendly industries. — VNS